Haywards Heath beauty business owner ‘saddened’ at not being able to reopen to customers

Samantha Trace, owner of Samantha Trace Cosmetics in Sydney Road, said she was shocked to find out the beauty industry was not included on a long list of businesses allowed to reopen – despite the industry being ‘covid secure’.

“I’m not sure what to say other than I’m absolutely gutted,” she said.

“As much as I’m over the moon for all my friends in the pub and hairdressing industry, I feel saddened we have been left out when we are among the most sterile work places before covid even existed.

“In the beauty industry and especially any form of cosmetic tattooing we have to train in infection control so it’s frustrating that we are left out of what the government has listed to reopen when we already had medical protocols before this virus even hit.”

Samantha, 35, said there is no scientific evidence against the industry – and keeping businesses closed ‘discriminates them’.

“I was so shocked – the fact you can go to the pub, get your hair done, have your teeth done mouth wide open and go on holiday but not get your nails or brows done is ludicrous and blows my mind,” she said.

“We were already covid secure before this happened, we already wore PPE and we always work behind the head.”

She has launched a campaign against the government’s decision demanding it acknowledges it has made a mistake and allows beauty businesses to reopen.

“There needs to be a public apology and for us to be seen as more than just beauty therapists,” added Samantha.

She said it has been a worrying time for her business, but she was standing up for other beauty businesses that are ‘on the verge of collapsing’.

Mid Sussex MP Mims Davies said she was ‘actively working with colleagues across Government, including the Business Secretary, to get people back into work as soon as possible’.

In a statement shared on social media, the MP addressed the beauty sector in the district and said it was ‘very keen to reopen’.

She said: “So many jobs and particularly female-led local businesses relying on this happening as soon as possible. I’m pushing for it so you can get on and move into recovery.”

Mrs Davies said she has had ‘several roundtable discussions’ about getting beauty businesses in the district back open as soon as possible.

She commented: “The Government is committed to reopening businesses in a phased approach, guided by the science, when it is safe to do so. I confess an absolute personal need for these sectors to reopen.

“However, where there are job losses, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff are on hand to work with claimants to support them to get back into work.”

National media reports that the All Party Parliamentary Group on Beauty, Aesthetics & Wellbeing (APPG) has written an open letter to Boris Johnson urging the government to publish a plan that will allow beauty salons to reopen.

During Prime Minister’s Questions on July 1, Mr Johnson said it was a ‘sad reality’ beauty businesses could not reopen and recognised that people ‘feel a sense of unfairness at hairdressers reopening’.

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