A plethora of spring and summer beauty trends emerged last month from the runways of New York Fashion Week. Now, as trend-seekers stream into salons and spas, there are three we will be watching more closely.
As we take a deeper dive, consider how salon and spa professionals should approach providing trendy services—and how a proactive safety mindset is key to keeping clients happy and healthy.
Dip powder has a moment
Hailed by beauty writers as an easy-to-maintain cross between a traditional and acrylic manicure, dip powder nails are becoming popular as an alternative to gels, which some manicure devotees find damaging. They last up to a month and are available through an increasing number of recognized brands. Though nail techs know this method has been around for a while, dip powder manicures are having their time in the sun. In fact, according to Glamour, searches for this manicure process have risen 442 percent over the past year.
As with all nail services, salon owners and technicians need to be consistent in always using sterilized equipment, working in a clean environment and checking their clients for signs of a nail infection. In particular, sanitary practices for dip nail manicures are a huge consideration, as ELLE reminds us. This is largely due to the possibility of nail techs using the same powder with multiple clients, which can potentially spread infection. Never mix new products or clean tools with used ones, and if tools cannot be sterilized, immediately throw them away after use.
In addition, most products—professional or DIY—contain chemicals that can harm the skin or damage the nail bed. Dip powder nail products are no different. They should be purchased from an FDA-approved source, applied meticulously and handled only by certified beauty professionals.
Purple hairstyles are here to stay
Another trend we’re paying attention to as we head into warmer months are pale purple hair hues. Although pastel hair colors and playful highlights have been popular for a while now, lilac and lavender shades are a trend we expect to endure throughout the year.
Trendy lilac looks are playful and bright, and according to Latest Hairstyles, a look for free-spirited and daring individuals. In many shades, from dusty periwinkle to lavender to amethyst, an increasing number of celebrities such as Cardi B and Lady Gaga have recently chosen the lilac look. Refinery29 has recognized lilac as the “hue of the moment,” and the color was featured in more than 100,000 Instagram photos spotlighting the wide array of lilac shades. By February, it had become one of the year’s top trends with searches for the term “lilac hair” up 1,077 percent on Pinterest.
As this style sweeps into salons—perhaps with some clients coloring their hair for the first time—it is important to remember there are potential risks with any hair color service. If you use a stain remover, ensure that the product you’re using is safe for the treated area of the skin and applied at the correct time. Test these products on a small patch of skin before applying the actual treatment. Be patient and pay close attention to any irritation that occurs. If irritation does occur after a treatment is provided, document it. Follow up with the patron and encourage them to follow up with their doctor if the irritation continues.
Chemical exfoliants scrub their way to the top
The final trend we’re watching is the use of chemical exfoliants. These skincare products are becoming more and more popular, replacing physical (or manual) exfoliants like microbeads and brushes. Plus, as Self describes, physical exfoliants can be abrasive and often involve more variables—like how hard users scrub—that can lead to damaged skin.
Chemical exfoliants are used to lift dead skin and impurities from the surface, ideally avoiding the rough and uncomfortable irritation found after using physical ones. They use glycolic acid, beta hydroxy acids and other ingredients to chemically break the bonds between skin cells, ideally resulting in a healthy glow.
These products have been commonly used in professional skincare treatments, but more and more people are using them at home. No matter where they are used, chemical exfoliators are powerful and should be used with a healthy dose of caution.
Any facial treatments should be performed by licensed estheticians or cosmetologists well-informed on the products they are using. It is helpful for these professionals to obtain a history from the client, outlining any potential problems that could occur due to their skin’s sensitivity, allergies, etc. Without doing so, a treatment such as an exfoliating facial, could result in irritation, burns or even scars. As with hair color stain remover, any products being applied to the face should first be tested on a small patch of skin. Never give a facial over skin that has had multiple services, such as waxing, and avoid over-exfoliating beyond the skin’s tolerance level.
Beauty trends are constantly shifting. What we expect to see this spring and summer could be completely out of style next year. However, what won’t change are the risks salon and spa owners face when helping their clients achieve trending looks. No matter the season, licensed professionals, clean and sterilized work environments and FDA-regulated products are always in fashion.
