Hairdressing insurance for your shop and scissors
Hairdressing insurance from a panel of trusted UK insurers
Insure your hairdressing business for liability with zero hassle
Hairdressing involves close physical contact with clients, sharp tools, electrical equipment, and chemical treatments — all in the same session. Whether you work in a salon, rent a chair, or visit clients as a mobile hairdresser, the risk of a claim from a chemical reaction, a burn from styling tools, or a client slipping in your workspace is real on every job.
At insurd, we’re an FCA-regulated specialist insurance broker with over 50 years of experience arranging public liability insurance for hairdressers across the UK. We work with a panel of leading UK insurers to find the right level of cover for your hairdressing work — whether you’re a sole trader, a salon owner, or renting a chair.
24/7 claims service
We’re here for you round the clock when you need us most.
Fairer prices for all
As a specialist insurance broker, we search our panel of leading UK insurers to find the right policy for your hairdressing business.
World-class support
You’ll get your own UK-based human to look after you for the duration of your policy.
We use a combination of technology and a wealth of experience to give you unrivalled cover and more affordable public liability insurance prices. Get a hairdressing liability insurance quote today.
What is hairdressing insurance?
Hairdressing insurance is a public liability policy that protects hairdressers and grooming professionals against claims for injuries or property damage that occur in their shops or during their services. It ensures financial protection for hairdressers working with sharp tools and specialised equipment.
The risks for hairdressers are specific to the trade. Chemical treatments — colour, bleach, perms, and keratin treatments — carry a real risk of allergic reactions and scalp burns if not correctly applied or patch tested. Sharp tools create injury risk on every client. And in a busy salon environment, slips and trips from wet floors, trailing cables, and equipment are common. Without public liability insurance, the financial consequences of any of these incidents fall entirely on you.
Chair renters and mobile hairdressers face an additional consideration — if you work in someone else’s salon or at clients’ homes, you need your own policy that covers your personal liability for your work, not just the salon’s policy.
Read our guide to what public liability insurance covers for more detail.
The benefits of a hairdressing insurance policy
Personal injury claims
Covers compensation if a client is injured during your hairdressing services — including burns from heated styling tools, cuts from scissors, scalp injuries from chemical treatments, or slips in your workspace. Chemical and tool-related injury claims are among the most common for hairdressers.
Damage to property
Covers accidental damage to a client’s belongings caused during your work — including product spills on clothing, dye staining garments or surfaces, and damage to personal items in your workspace. Property damage claims from product spills are a frequent and significant risk for hairdressers.
Legal protection
Covers legal defence costs if a claim is brought against you, even if it’s unfounded or exaggerated. For hairdressers, disputed claims about whether a reaction was caused by your treatment or a pre-existing condition are common — having cover ensures you can defend yourself professionally.
* Subject to your chosen level of policy cover and the prevailing policy excess.
How much does hairdressing insurance cost?
This depends on the nature and size of your hairdressing business, the level of risk involved and any claims history you might have. The cost of public liability insurance varies based on several factors:
Type of cover
Standard cover starts at £1 million, which is sufficient for most individual hairdressers. Salon owners with multiple staff or those carrying out advanced chemical treatments regularly may require higher limits. Our team can advise on the right level for your business.
Nature of business
The complexity of your services is the primary pricing factor. Standard cutting and styling carries lower risk than chemical treatments such as colouring or bleaching, which carry a greater risk of allergic reactions and scalp injuries and typically attract higher premiums.
Location
Where you operate affects your premium. Busy urban salons with higher footfall face greater exposure than quieter suburban or rural locations. Mobile hairdressers working across multiple client locations are assessed differently to fixed-premises operators.
Business size and turnover
The scale of your hairdressing business, including annual income, number of clients, and the volume of treatments carried out, directly affects your premium. Salon owners with multiple staff face higher premiums than sole traders carrying out domestic work.
Number of employees
Hairdressing businesses with employed stylists carry significantly greater risk exposure. Employers’ liability is a legal requirement the moment you engage anyone to work for you — our team can arrange both policies together.
Claims history
A clean claims history is your most effective long-term cost reduction tool. Hairdressers who carry out thorough client consultations, conduct patch tests where required, and maintain a clean and safe workspace attract lower premiums at renewal.
How to reduce your hairdressing insurance premium
Beyond the factors above, several practical steps can help reduce your hairdressing insurance costs.
- Always conduct patch tests for chemical treatments — Thorough client consultations and patch tests before colour, bleach, or chemical services are the most effective way to prevent allergic reaction claims — the most common and costly claim type for hairdressers.
- Keep client consultation records — Documenting every client consultation, patch test result, and treatment history protects you against disputed claims about reaction causes and demonstrates professional risk management to insurers.
- Maintain a clean and safe workspace — Wet floor signage, tidy cable management, and regular equipment checks reduce slip, trip, and tool-related injury risks — all common claim types in salon environments.
- Declare your actual services accurately — If you carry out advanced chemical treatments or specialist services, ensure your policy accurately covers these. Undeclared services could invalidate a claim.
- Pay annually — Monthly payments include finance interest. Paying your full annual premium upfront avoids that additional cost.
For more ways to reduce your public liability costs, see our public liability insurance cost guide.
Hairdressing insurance frequently asked questions
When do I need to get hairdressing public liability insurance?
As soon as you start carrying out treatments for clients — whether in a salon, from a home setup, or as a mobile hairdresser. Chemical treatments, sharp tools, and close client contact create specific risks, and cover should be in place before you take on your first client.
Is hairdressing public liability insurance a legal requirement?
No — it isn't a legal requirement in the UK. However, salon owners will usually require proof of your own cover if you rent a chair, and many professional hairdressing associations require it as a condition of membership. It's also essential protection in an environment where chemical treatments and close physical contact carry real risk.
What does hairdressing public liability insurance actually cover?
It covers compensation claims and legal fees if a client or member of the public is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your hairdressing activities. Common examples include a client suffering a chemical burn or allergic reaction from a colour or bleaching treatment, a client being injured by scissors or styling tools, a client's clothing being damaged by a product, or a client slipping in your workspace. It covers both the compensation payment and your legal costs, even if a claim turns out to be unfounded.
What isn't covered by hairdressing public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance covers claims from members of the public — it doesn't cover claims from your own employees (that's employers' liability), losses caused by professional advice (you'd need professional indemnity for broader protection), or damage to your own tools and equipment. Always check your policy wording carefully to understand exactly what's included.
Does hairdressing insurance cover chemical treatments such as colouring and perming?
Yes — public liability insurance covers claims arising from chemical treatments, including reactions to colour, bleach, or perm solutions. This is one of the most common risk areas in hairdressing. Conducting a thorough consultation and patch test where appropriate is the best way to minimise the risk of a claim.
Do I need hairdressing insurance if I'm employed in a salon as well as taking private clients?
Your employer's insurance covers you while you're working in the salon, but it won't cover you for any private or mobile work you carry out independently. If you take on private clients outside of your employment, you need your own public liability policy to protect yourself for that work.
What limit of cover should I choose?
Standard cover starts at £1 million, which is sufficient for most hairdressers. If you operate a larger salon with multiple staff or carry out advanced chemical treatments regularly, a higher level may be appropriate. Our team can advise on the right cover level for your business.
Is public liability insurance tax deductible?
Yes — business insurance is an allowable expense, which means you can deduct the cost when calculating your taxable profit. Make sure you keep your policy documents and receipts as records for HMRC. If you're unsure, speak to your accountant.
Do you provide evidence of cover?
Yes — you'll receive proof of cover instantly when your policy is in place, which you can share with salon owners or associations straight away. If you also take out employers' liability cover, a Certificate of Employers' Liability will be issued immediately for display at your premises.
Why can I trust insurd?
We've been arranging insurance for over 50 years — now trading as insurd — and we're authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Register Number: 308508), and over a thousand real customers have shared their experiences with us on Trustpilot.
You can verify our status directly on the FCA register.
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