Consumers have more loyalty to their salon or spa than to any particular beauty product brand, a report has revealed.

As many as 80 per cent of salon and spa customers are loyal to the facilities they visit, while over half of customers often or sometimes change the products they use, according to research published by Allegra.

The most recognised professional beauty brands were Clarins, St Tropez, Aveda and Decleor, while Clarins, Clinique and L’Oreal were the top three retail brands.

The report, Project Beauty: UK Salon and Spa Market, predicted that the UK beauty salon/spa market will have a turnover of £1.13bn by December 2005, up from £927m this year. The number of outlets is also expected to increase from 12,370 to 14,425.

This growth is driven by an increased desire among consumers to relax and pamper themselves, the report said. As lifestyles become ever busier, there is a growing focus on personal wellbeing and appearance, with many people viewing beauty treatments as ‘essential’. Two-thirds of salon and spa customers visit these facilities more now than in the past and nearly two-thirds visit at least once a month.

The report was based on a survey of 925 salon and spa customers in 28 cities and towns across the UK, including London, and 126 in-depth interviews with a range of industry experts. Details: www.allegra.co.uk