Detail work and awkward postures
Lash extensions, brow shaping and facials mean bending over a couch, often for an hour at a time. Neck, upper back and wrist pain follow, and close detail work strains your eyes. Massage and body treatments put more load on your hands and shoulders.
Waxes, adhesives and skincare products can cause allergic reactions. If you develop a sensitivity, you may not be able to keep offering some treatments.
Mobile, home studio or salon
Mobile therapists carry a couch and kit in and out of a car several times a day, adding lifting and driving to the job. Home studio owners avoid that but have lower visibility if they need to stop for a while. Salon-employed therapists may have statutory sick pay and little else.
Self-employed therapists should keep tidy records. Insurers base benefit on your declared profit, so expenses you claim reduce the figure they use.
- List the treatments you offer when you apply
- Have your last two or three tax returns ready
- Mention any qualification or registration you hold
Definitions and deferred periods
Insurers group jobs into risk classes, and a beautician is usually seen as skilled light manual work. The class affects price and whether you are assessed on your own occupation or on a wider definition at claim time.
With no sick pay, a deferred period of four weeks is a common choice. If a partner's income would cover the bills for a while, a longer wait makes the premium more affordable.
Aesthetics and advanced treatments
Some beauticians expand into advanced skin treatments, laser work or injectable aesthetics. Insurers may ask more questions about these, and the answers can affect which policies are available. Tell us about any treatment you offer regularly, even if it is a small part of your work, so the insurer has the full picture.
Changing your treatment menu after the policy starts does not usually mean you lose cover, but check your policy for any duty to tell the insurer about changes. Keeping your training records and certificates in order helps if questions come up later.
If you work for a salon, ask whether it offers any group cover. A few employers include group income protection or death in service, which affects how much personal cover you need.
Support from Hi Tomorrow
We ask what treatments you offer, how you travel and how your income has looked in recent years. Then we compare insurers on our panel for price and wording and explain the differences in plain English.
If you are starting a salon or have a mortgage, we can include life cover. Our advice is free.