What does salon insurance cover?
Our hair salon insurance is designed to safeguard your business premises and operations from unexpected events. Our cover includes protection for your contents, stock, equipment, and fixtures, including glass and any improvements you’ve made to the property. You can also opt for business interruption cover, helping to protect your income if your salon can’t open due to damage or other disruptions.
Public liability insurance is included as standard, with options up to £5 million. This protects your salon against claims for injury or property damage caused on-site, whether during a treatment or from the use of products.
You can tailor your policy with optional extras such as employers’ liability (a legal requirement if you employ staff), legal expenses, and personal accident cover — ensuring your salon has comprehensive protection that matches the scale and nature of your business.
Make sure you have the correct insurance for your activities, and be sure to check if any exclusions are relevant to what you have planned in the policy documentation.
Public Liability
Equipment & Stock
Employers' Liability
Professional Treatment
Public & product liability
- Up to £5 million of cover.
- Covers injury to third parties or damage to their property during business activities.
- Includes cover for incidents arising from professional treatments (e.g., allergic reaction, dye spillage).
- Also includes Products Liability for products sold or supplied.
- Includes liability under the Defective Premises Act 1972 (up to £1 million).
Professional treatment
- Cover specifically for injuries or damage resulting from treatments carried out by the business.
- Examples include reactions to products or treatment mishaps.
Employers Liability
- Up to £10 million of cover.
- Covers claims for injury or death due to employer negligence.
- Requires details of all employees, including roles (qualified, trainee, clerical).
- Required by law if employing staff (paid or voluntary).
- Does not include cover for teaching or giving professional advice (no Professional Indemnity cover).
Property Damage
Cover for physical loss or damage to business property, under these specific categories
Equipment away from premises
- Covers business equipment used away from the premises for damage or theft within territorial limits
Glass
- Covers fixed glass, including designs, lettering, and protective fittings.
Stock in trade
- Covers business stock used or sold in connection with your services.
Business Content
- Includes furniture, fittings, tools, computer hardware, and employees’ personal items (limited to £500 per person).
- Excludes jewellery, furs, motor vehicles, and money.
Tenant improvements
- Covers improvements made to a rented or leased property that the insured is legally responsible for.
Money, Assault, Employee dishonesty
Money
- Cover for loss or theft of business money under specific limits (e.g., £2,500 for transit, safes, etc.).
- Includes cover at premises, in transit, at employees’ residences, and vending machines.
Assault
- Covers injury due to robbery or attempted robbery.
- Capital sum: £10,000.
- Weekly benefit for temporary total disablement: £100.
Employee Dishonesty
- Cover up to £5,000 for losses caused by dishonest acts of employees involving money or property.
Business interruption
- Covers loss of income due to disruption from a covered Property Damage claim.
- £500,000 for Loss of Income (up to 24 months).
- £10,000 for Increased Cost of Working to maintain operations.
- £2,000 for unrecoverable Book Debts.
- Triggers include property damage, utility or internet failure, denial of access, public authority action, supplier failure, or loss of attraction.
- Not available online if annual turnover exceeds £250,000 (requires underwriter review).
- Teaching or professional instruction (no Professional Indemnity cover).
- Damage to third parties not related to business activities.
- Any property damage if building and business conditions (e.g. security, fire safety) are not met.
- Vacant premises over 7 consecutive days.
- Storage of highly flammable substances
Certain exclusions may apply under each cover section as defined in the policy wording, please refer to policy documentation.
Why do salon owners need insurance?
Running a hair salon means more than delivering great results for your clients—it also means managing the risks that come with operating a physical business. From welcoming customers through your doors to handling professional equipment and managing staff, there are many elements outside your control that could disrupt your day-to-day operations.
Accidents like slips, trips, or allergic reactions can happen at any time, even with the greatest care. Damage to expensive equipment, loss of stock, or a break-in could mean costly repairs and unexpected downtime. If you have employees, you’re also legally responsible for their safety while at work.
Salon insurance provides tailored protection against these risks, giving you peace of mind that you’re financially covered should something go wrong. These are some typical scenarios when hair salon insurance is essential.
Injury to a client or member of the public.
While the risk is low, a client may trip over a chair or slip on a wet floor and hold you responsible. Whether you’re working from a salon or visiting someone’s home, you could be liable if someone gets hurt in connection with your work.
Public liability insurance for hairdressers will protect should someone get hurt whilst in your place of work and holds you accountable.
Damage to a clients’ property.
Accidents can happen during appointments—such as spilling hair dye on a client’s carpet during a home visit or damaging a handbag in a salon. If you’re held responsible, you could face costly claims. Insurance offers financial protection if you’re found liable for the damage.
Damage to the salon premises
Events like fire, flooding, or vandalism can damage your salon and disrupt your ability to trade. Insurance can help you recover the cost of repairs and support loss of income during the downtime, helping you get back up and running as quickly as possible.
Loss, theft, or damage to equipment.
Whether you’re a mobile hairdresser carrying your tools with you, or running a salon with professional equipment on site, the cost of repair or replacement can be high. From accidental damage to theft or loss, having insurance can help you avoid unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.
Claims resulting from a treatment gone wrong
Even with training and care, things can go wrong—such as a client having an allergic reaction to a product or suffering skin damage during a treatment. Professional treatment cover helps protect you if a client makes a claim for injury or damage resulting from the service you provided.
How is salon insurance different from hairdressing insurance?
Salon insurance is designed for business owners who operate from a physical premises, while hairdressing insurance is tailored for individuals working independently—such as mobile hairdressers, freelancers, or home-based stylists.
Salon insurance offers broader protection for bricks-and-mortar businesses, while hairdressing insurance suits individuals working more flexibly or without a fixed location.
Key differences
Premises Cover
Salon insurance protects your location, including glass, fixtures, tenant improvements, business contents, and stock. Hairdressing insurance doesn’t include premises-related cover.
Business Interruption
Salon insurance can cover loss of income if you can’t trade due to events like fire, flood, or power failure. This isn’t available under standard hairdressing insurance.
Property Protection
Salon policies offer wider property damage cover—including equipment on and off premises. Hairdressing policies focus on portable equipment and basic stock limits.
Staff & Legal Responsibilities
Salon insurance includes Employers’ Liability (if you have staff) and liability under the Defective Premises Act. Hairdressing insurance includes optional Employers’ Liability but doesn’t cover liabilities related to premises.
Additional Financial Protection
Salon policies may also cover business money, injuries from robbery, and employee dishonesty—features not typically included in hairdressing policies.
Our experts explain why...
“We’ve built a policy for salon owners that provides financial protection if you accidentally injure a client or damage their property, or someone else’s, while carrying out your services.
In addition, our hairdressing salon insurance policy can cover against property damage, employers’ liability, and business interruption claims – ensuring your business is protected from more than just the basics.”
Chris Trotman, Protectivity Underwriting Manager
How much does hairdressing insurance cost?
At Protectivity Salon Insurance starts from £10.08 a month.*
Hairdressing & barber policies start at just £3.76 per month.*
The cost of insurance for hairdressers and barbers will vary depending on the type of policy you choose—whether it’s individual cover for a mobile or freelance professional, or a policy for a salon or barber shop.
Several factors can affect the price, including the size and nature of your business. For example, if you employ staff, operate from a physical premises, or need to cover valuable equipment or stock, this may increase the cost. The level of public liability cover you choose, as well as any optional extras like business interruption or personal accident, can also influence the final premium.
Each policy is tailored to suit your specific setup, so you only pay for the cover that’s relevant to your business.
Prices from
£10.08* a month
Explainer quote
Policy cost
£10.08* a month
Policy type
Hair Salon Insurance
Turnover
£50,000
Public Liability
£2,000,000
Product Liability
£2,000,000
Stock in trade
£1000
This example is based on a real quote from our website on 2/06/2025. If your circumstances and cover needs differ, your quote may be more or less expensive than the above example. The quote you receive will reflect the information you share about your event. The quoted price may vary from those displayed here.
What treatments does salon insurance?
Our policy covers a wide range of hairdressing and beauty treatments. To check the full extent of our cover, please request a quote and be sure to check policy documentation.
Treatments covered.
- Washing, cutting, styling, and drying of hair
- Use of clippers/trimmers and cut-throat razors
- Use of electrical equipment such as curlers, straighteners, hairdryers, and tongs
- Application of bleaches, dyes, perms, and tints
- Hair extensions (if qualified for the method used)
- Application of false eyelashes and semi-permanent eyelash extensions
- Eyebrow plucking, threading, waxing, shaping, dyeing, tinting, and perming (including semi-permanent mascara)
Have a question?
For further information on your policy, renewals, making a claim and contacting us, you’ll find an extensive list of FAQs on our Help & Support page.
Why choose Protectivity for your hairdressing salon insurance policy?
Let the reviews of over 3,500 customers explain why you should choose us.¹
Trusted by over 150,000 customers.
Experienced insurance providers for over 30 years.
Over 3,500 highly rated reviews.
Proof of our excellent customer service.
Experienced Claims Handling
A smooth and efficient claims process.
UK Based Customer Support
Our UK sales team are here to help.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Does my policy cover my employees?
If you have employees, you’re legally required to have employers’ liability insurance. This can be included in your policy and covers you if an employee is injured or becomes ill as a result of working for you.
How much public liability cover do hairdressers need?
We offer up to £5 million in public liability cover. The amount you need may depend on your specific business activities and any contractual requirements. Consider the maximum possible loss your business could face in the event of a claim.
Does my policy include product liability insurance?
Product liability is included in your policy. This covers you if a product you’ve sold or used causes injury or damage, subject to policy limits.
Am I covered for mobile hairdressing?
Yes, our policy covers mobile hairdressers. You’re protected while working at clients’ homes or other locations, and your equipment is covered during transit.
What activities can you cover me for?
We can cover the following activities as standard under our Hairdressing Insurance policy:
The use of:
– Clippers/trimmers and cut-throat razors
– Electrical equipment such as curlers, straighteners, hairdryers and tongs
The application of:
– Bleaches, dyes, perms and tints
– Hair extensions (subject to you being qualified for the extension method you are using)
– Nail polish (including the application of acrylic coatings, cutting and shaping of nails), false eyelashes and semi-permanent eyelash extensions
– Tooth jewellery
The activities of:
– Ear piercing using a gun and stud
– Eyebrow plucking (including threading and waxing), shaping, dyeing, tinting and perming including semi-permanent mascara
– Washing, cutting, styling and drying of hair
If your chosen treatment is not listed, just get in touch and speak to one of our friendly advisors to see if we can cover you.
Do you need to see my qualifications/certificates?
We do not need to see proof of your qualifications for you to be able to take out our insurance. We do, however, require you and any employees to hold the relevant qualifications or certificates for the services you are providing. Please note, that we do not accept qualifications that are obtained by a method of remote learning (e.g. internet-based training courses). If you need to make a claim on your Hairdressing Insurance policy then we may request to see these documents. Should we discover that you are not qualified to carry out the insured activities, we may reject your claim.
Am I covered if a customer doesn’t like their hair cut/treatment?
No, this is something that is not covered. Our policy is designed to cover Liability issues, such as injury to a third party, such as a customer, or damage to their property. For example, our policy would cover a mobile hairdresser if they were to burn a client’s scalp with curling tongs, or with an erroneously applied bleach.
Do I need to do a patch test on a client prior to using hair dye or other such products?
You would need to do a patch test at least 24 hours prior to using a product on a client for the first time and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. However, if the manufacturer states that patch testing should be done more regularly, or each time that a product is to be used, then you should adhere to those instructions.
Can you insure my hair products and stock?
Yes, our Equipment Cover benefit includes protection for things such as styling products, treatment items and other stock you may use or sell in your salon. Like your specific hairdressing equipment, it is covered against loss, theft and damage up to the value selected on your policy. We even provide £250 worth of cover free of charge with every policy taken out.
I have students working for me while they study to become a hairdresser, are they covered under this policy?
If you include Employers’ Liability on your policy, we can provide cover for students as long as they are supervised.
What happens if I have a claim under the Equipment Cover section of my policy?
If your equipment requires repair or is deemed to be broken and you have a valid claim, we will cover the costs of hiring new equipment to replace it while the original item is being replaced, or until your claim is settled, whichever is soonest.
Are my work phone and laptop covered under the equipment cover section?
No, we only provide cover for the items you use to provide your insured treatments, such as scissors, clippers, salon chair and razors.
Discover more from Protectivity
This page content has been created for general information and should not be taken as advice.
*Prices quoted refer to a quote raised from our website 2/6/2025. Prices will differ depending on requirements. Make sure you have the correct level of cover for what you need. For the most accurate pricing, please get a quote and for full details on what is covered refer to our policy documentation with your quote.
** Based on Protectivity sales data from 2007 to Sep 2024
¹Based on live Feefo data