In December 2016, interest in cannabidiol (CBD) on Google surpassed searches for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Popular interest in the compound has been climbing ever since, spilling over into the salon and spa industry. As a result, salons and spas have supplemented services with CBD offerings, from massage oils to hair products and more.
While many predicted CBD would be a passing fad, a 2023 poll of from Wellspa360 revealed 73% of respondents still wanted to bring CBD into their businesses. Use of CBD in products is now more established in the beauty industry, but like any compound, information is constantly evolving. Salon and spa owners looking to make the most of sustained interest in CBD should ensure they have a full understanding of the product and its use.
Going back to the basics
An active ingredient in cannabis, CBD does not contain the psychoactive ingredient THC. CBD is nationally legal as long as it is derived from hemp plants and contains less than 0.3% THC. Those who use CBD do so for a variety of reasons and there are a number of claims regarding its benefits. There are, however, some proven benefits salon and spa owners should research and understand before incorporating treatments, including:
- Stress and anxiety relief: While CBD is not approved by the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) as an anxiety medication, its properties contribute to stress and anxiety relief. Several studies support this notion, including one published in the National Library of Medicine, showing CBD was well-tolerated and helped alleviate anxiety.
- Skin care: CBD can help with skin oil production, which causes acne problems. The anti-inflammatory benefits of CBD can also assist with skin redness and swelling. People with skin conditions like eczema have found relief with CBD for the same reasons.
- Hair care: Hair products with CBD have been found to help with hair growth and scalp irritation. One study in 2021 testing 35 people using CBD daily for 6 months had no side effects and averaged a 93.5% increase in hair count.
The applications
There are many CBD options for salon and spa owners. Business owners should first consider the efficacy of the products they are using, evaluate client needs and provide proper employee training to ensure they are equipped to best advise clients. Consider the following steps when introducing CBD products and services in your salon or spa:
- Client input: Clients are a great resource for salon and spa owners looking for ideas on how to expand their services. Though they may not know the specific CBD products they want from their local salon or spa, clients can tell salon or spa owners the issues they want addressed. Owners can then research and evaluate CBD products that can help. Giving clients the space to express their needs can provide salon and spa owners with practical insights on what products to begin exploring.
- Research: When considering any new product, salon and spa owners should ensure they conduct extensive research to verify the uses and benefits for clients. Unfortunately, some CBD products do not live up to their claims and could leave clients disappointed. Fellow industry professionals and online product reviews can be great starting points for research on most products, including CBD.
- Employee training: Salon and spa employees should be able to speak in detail about every product they offer clients. CBD is no exception, especially considering clients might have many questions given the continued novel quality and interest in such beauty products. Once a salon and spa owner determines what CBD products and services they will use, employees should be trained on product ingredients, how to use them and how they can help clients both use and understand those products and their benefits.
It is likely clients will continue to ask about CBD and could even focus their salon or spa search around those offering the most extensive CBD products and services. As such, business owners should familiarize themselves with the CBD landscape, even if they are not yet ready to offer related products. Take some time to establish how CBD could be successful in your salon or spa and how your clients might benefit.
Kathy Lopez, Account Manager for SASSI, the Salon and Spa Specialty Insurance program at Brownyard Group. She can be reached at klopez@brownyard.com.
