How the Beauty Industry Is Supporting Hairstylists and Salons During COVID-19

L'Oréal USA Professional Products is doing its part by donating to the Professional Beauty Association COVID-19 Relief Fund, which supports licensed professionals in the US who are unable to work due to COVID-19. The fund supplies emergency aid for short-term needs like food and bills.

The brand has also announced an initiative to provide relief to Americans and small businesses alike by freezing the existing payments of very small and small-size enterprises in its distribution network, including independent hair salons, until businesses resume.

For National Stylist Appreciation Day on April 30, the L'Oréal USA Professional Products Brands — Matrix, Biolage, Redken, L'Oréal Professional, Pureology, Mizani, Kérastase, Shu Umera Art of Hair, Pulp Riot, and Baxter of California — are coming together to for the #SupportYourStylist initiative. This call-to action is in partnership with the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) Relief Fund. Together, they hope to raise $2.5M for the relief. To support stylists they're encouraging people to participate in the campaign on social media, pre-book appointments at their favorite salon, pick up "beauty products to-go" from the salons websites, and write a review online.

Amika created an affiliate program to help hairstylists get commissions on sales during this time. Stylists who register receive 40 percent commission from orders their clients place. The brand is also providing digital master classes via Instagram for stylists to tune in to.

John Paul Mitchell Systems is rolling out a relief program for salons and stylists affected by COVID-19. The JPMS Salon Jumpstart Stimulus Plan includes free hair color and backbar products to allow them to see clients as soon as possible without spending money on expensive inventory, enhanced education, digital support, and more. The brand is also partnering with its loyal salons and distributor partners to help rebuild cashflow reserves to aid its partners back into business as quickly as possible.

Hair brand Hairstory runs a unique affiliate program that pays hairstylists income from sales they drive on an ongoing basis. This allows stylists to make a profit on commission even while their salons are closed during the pandemic.

Khairpep launched an initiative called #HairArtistsUnite to build a support fund for the stylist community. The fund will be derived from 50 percent of sales of the Khairpep K18Peptide Masque. Starting March 23 util April 24, followers can nominate an artist or salon of their choice every week on Instagram to win.

Beauty publicist Melody O'Flaherty and celebrity hairstylist Michael Dueñas launched Support Creatives, a nonprofit to support the beauty industry in this time of need. The organization will include emergency beauty support through financial assistance to artists out of work, mentorship, online education programs, and tool and product support to help artists get back to work.

To help its salon partners, Oribe set up a commission program. From now until May 1, the brand is offering 50 percent commission on all retail purchases made by their salons' customers on Oribe.com. To get involved, salon owners can contact their Oribe Brand Executive or Account Consultant to learn more and enroll.

Bellami is partnering with the Professional Beauty Association COVID-19 Relief Fund to donate $300K in monetary relief, educational trainings, and goods to professional hairstylists facing financial hardships due to the pandemic.

On April 3, Moroccanoil donated 100% of its proceeds to the PBA COVID-19 Relief Fund to help provide emergency financial assistance to stylists and salon workers unable to work due to the pandemic.

Drybar is encouraging shoppers to support the COVID-19 Wage Assistance Fund to benefit its stylists. On April 15, 100 percent of the proceeds from Blowout Packs and 50 percent of sales from products and tools go to the fund.

R+Co is using its affiliate program to support salons and hairstylists during this time by giving them 40 percent commission. Since the program launched in late March, the brand has paid over $400K in commission to over 700 participating salons.

For every use of the #LoveLeandro hashtag on Instagram, Leandro Limited will donate $50 to the Love Leandro Limited™ Fund — inspired by Leandro Rizzuto, the founder of Conair Corporation — providing hair stylists with money for bills, food, supplies, and more.

To participate in the campaign, post a photo on your Instagram feed or story, or leave a message in the comments of a photo, tagging @LeandroLimited, #LoveLeandro, and the hairstylist in need, and share why you're nominating them. Nominees will be entered to win $500 from the Love Leandro Limited™ Fund.

For National Hairstylist Appreciation Day on April 30, Ouidad is donating 100 percent of the online proceeds for that day to the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Henkel Beauty Care Hair Professional is supporting stylists during COVID-19 by donating $200K to The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) to support the PBA COVID-19 Relief Fund, as well as 200K units of hair product and monetary funding to organizations such as Beauty Changes Lives, Dress for Success, Seattle's Union Gospel Mission, and Project Beauty Share in major hot spots like Los Angeles, New York, and Washington.

Henkel also recently launched a comprehensive Global Solidarity Program to support employees, customers, and affected communities.

Aveda launched a multi-million dollar relief program, Aveda Cares, to benefit stylists and more than 6,000 independently-owned salons and spas around the country that carry Aveda products. The initiative is to help salons recover from COVID-19 closures.

Viviscal will be making donation as a portion of sales up to $100K to the Professional Beauty Association (PBA) COVID-19 Relief Fund to help stylists and beauty professionals enduring hardships as a result of COVID-19.

Coty Professional Beauty has established a $650K COVID-19 industry relief fund. As part of the initiative, the brand has donated $200K to support stylists and manicurists through the Hairdressers at Heart program, awarding up to $1,000 that can be used at their discretion. All licensed beauty pros are eligible to apply. In addition to that, the company is also offering free business and skills education classes in its virtual classroom and donating over 180K pairs of gloves to healthcare providers in Los Angeles and the New York area.

Kitsch created an affiliate program to provide supplementary income to hairstylists who are out of work during this time. The program offers 40 percent commission on sales stemming from the stylists' individual codes.

In Common, a hair-care brand by Nikki Lee and Riawna Capri of Nine Zero One Salon, is offering hairstylists 30 percent commission on products ordered through their custom link.

Evo Hair is offering 30 percent commission on every purchase made at EvoHair.com to its salon partners to support owners, stylists affected by the pandemic.