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Hairdressers insurance

Get the right cover for you, your clients and your salon

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Compare business insurance quotes from 14 leading UK insurers1

Comparing deals from more providers makes it easy to find the right cover and price for your needs, helping you save money.

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1Accurate as of September 2023

Do I need hairdressing insurance?

As a hairdresser or barber, it’s your job to get people looking and feeling their best, but one slip of the scissors and you could have more than a bad hair day on your hands. Mistakes and accidents, theft of your equipment, accidental damage – these are all things that can happen more easily than you might think and cost you money.

There are several risks in the hairdressing industry, but there are ways you can protect yourself as a business. 

Whether you work for yourself at home or in a salon; hairdresser insurance will ensure that you are protected should anything go wrong.  With the right level of protection, your policy can help turn a worst-case scenario into a manageable problem.

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What type of insurance is available for hairdressers?

  • Public liability insurance

    Public liability insurance protects your business against compensation claims and their legal costs if you cause injury to, or damage, the property of a member of the public. It covers you on your premises and working off-site if you’re visiting clients

  • Product liability insurance

    It’s a good idea to consider product liability insurance too – this will protect you against claims arising from the use of defective products, or negligent applications. No matter how good a hair stylist you are, it’s better to be safe than sorry

  • Employers’ liability insurance

    If you have employees, contractors, casual workers or temporary staff, you must, by law, have employers’ liability insurance. This covers claims from employees who have been injured or become seriously ill as a result of working for you.

What type of hairdressing insurance do I need?

Although not essential, public liability insurance will be a key cover for many hairdressers – it’s built to cover you for injuries and property damage, if your client makes a claim.

Alongside this important cover, you may want to add insurance for things like your essential business equipment, tools and stock. And if you employ anyone (including contractors, temporary staff or apprentices), employers’ liability cover is usually a legal requirement.

How much does hairdresser insurance cost?

The cost of hairdresser's insurance varies depending on the circumstances of your business and the type of cover you take out. On average it costs £66 a year, based on Simply Business data from Jan-May 2021. 

Compare business insurance quotes to look at different levels of cover and find the right policy at the right price for your company.

What other cover for hairdressers should I consider?

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    Stock insurance

    If you are keeping stock such as styling tools or hair care products at your salon, this cover protects you in an event that damages the stock such as a break-in, fire, or flood

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    Personal accident insurance

    Provides payment if anyone in your business between the ages of 16-75 is unable to work because they have been injured in an accident, whether in a business or personal capacity

  • Plus

    Tools insurance

    As a hairdresser or barber, you are likely to have a lot of tools that help you carry out your services. Protecting all your hairdressing tools includes covering whether your tools are lost, stolen or damaged

  • Plus

    Legal expenses insurance

    Legal issues can be very expensive as well as time consuming – exactly what you want to avoid. This is where legal expenses cover comes to your aid

  • Plus

    Treatment risk cover

    Hairdressing includes risks that other businesses do not face. Treatment risk insurance safeguards against any damage your business may be exposed to because of these accidents

  • Plus

    Natural disasters

    You may want to consider covering your business if a flood, fire or other unexpected event prevents you from working at your business 

What treatments are covered by hairdressing insurance?

Public liability claims resulting from non-invasive treatments are covered by the hairdresser's Insurance policy. This includes:

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    Body wrapping

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    Ear piercing (using stud and gun method)

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    Electrical epilation (electrolysis)

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    Eyebrow tinting/shaping

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    Eyelash tinting

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    False eyelash application

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    Manicure/nail art/nail extensions

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    Pedicure

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    Sugaring/waxing/spray tan


Sam Meadows

Our expert says

"

As a professional hairdresser you’re likely to be performing thousands of haircuts every year. Even though you are undoubtedly skilled at your job, one slip when you snip could be costly if you hurt your client. Hairdresser insurance also covers essentials such as your equipment and employer’s liability for your staff, while comparing deals with us should help cut your premiums too.

"
- Sam Meadows, Insurance Expert

How to compare hairdresser’s insurance quotes

How to compare hairdresser’s insurance quotes:

  • Tell us about your business

    Let us know about your business and who you employ, and we'll find deals tailored to your requirements

  • Check your requirements

    Check the policy offer meets the demands and needs of your business and read the policy documents

  • Choose the one you like

    You'll be able to compare your offers by cost, level of protection and any extras that are available

If you have a salon, you’ll need building cover to protect your business premises. Start a new quote and choose ‘hairdressing salon’, instead of ‘ hairdresser’.

Insurance isn’t a legal requirement for mobile hairdressers (unless you’re bringing an employee with you, in which case you need employers’ liability insurance).  

But if something happens while you’re visiting a client at their property – say you injure your client or damage the property you could be responsible for the consequences. Having hairdresser insurance in place could mean you don’t need to bear all of those costs yourself

If you’re a self-employed hairdresser, you need to consider what cover you need to protect yourself and your business. While public liability cover is not a legal requirement, it’s widely considered essential in all public‐facing industries. As hairdressers have a lot of contact with customers and can use dangerous tools and products, it makes sense for you to protect yourself from any mishaps.

No matter how skilled and diligent you are, you can’t please everyone. Of course, not every dissatisfied customer will sue, or even complain. But as you rack up hundreds and then thousands of hair styling appointments in your career, your chances of a costly mishap inevitably grow. Trim the risks to your financial well-being down to size by getting our Public Liability Insurance for Hairdressers today.

If the customer has not suffered an injury or an accident by the services provided by you (hairdresser), then there are no grounds for claiming the public liability cover. 

Hairdresser insurance isn’t a legal requirement unless you have staff working for you, and then you have to have employer’s liability insurance in place. If you don’t employ any staff, you’re not required by law to get hairdressing insurance but it’s advisable to protect yourself and your finances. 

Yes, public liability claims arising from injury to your client's hair or scalp will be covered by the Hairdresser's Insurance policy.

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