Beauty salons have a rich history that spans ancient rituals to contemporary trends. The roots of beauty rituals can be traced back to the earliest civilizations, including Ancient Egypt, Greece & Rome, where they held great cultural & religious significance. 

 

During the Renaissance era (14th–17th century), as Europe saw the emergence of beauty as an art form, these rituals took on a more artistic & creative dimension. 

 

By the 18th century, there was renewed interest in fashion & style, and hairdressing started to become a serious business. The world’s first hair dryer was invented in France in 1890, which gave hairdressers much more control and flexibility over the styles they could create. 

 

In the 19th century, beauty salons began to take on a more modern form, with the first professional beauty parlour established in Paris. These early salons were often run by hairdressers and focused primarily on hair care. In 1888, Martha Matilda Harper, a young Canadian immigrant to the United States and a pioneer in the American beauty industry, established the first salon: the Harper Method Shop. 

 

From then on, the industry kept evolving through the late 1800s & 1900s. The trend of beauty salons continued to spread throughout the United States in the early 20th century, with the opening of the first beauty salon in New York City in 1902. 

 

As the beauty industry evolved, so did the range of services offered by salons. In the 1920s & 1930s, salons began to provide an expansive range of beauty services. By the 1950s, both hair & makeup reached new heights of popularity. Beauty salons were packed out, and that busy-ness only increased in the 1960s, wherein the beauty industry saw a shift towards more holistic & natural beauty practices, with the emergence of “beauty boutiques” offering aromatherapy, herbal treatments, and other natural beauty services. From the 1970s to the 1990s, hair & makeup trends kept rapidly changing. 

 

The late 20th century witnessed a significant shift in the industry, as it marked the commercialization of beauty services, with individuals seeking professional assistance for their grooming needs. Beauty Professionals received specialised training, and the introduction of new cosmetics & equipment further expanded the range of services offered, which resulted in the rise of celebrity hairdressers such as John Freida & Vidal Sassoon.

 

Over time, beauty salons increased to cater to the growing demands for professional treatments that women didn’t have time to do themselves. Thus, the industry quickly took off, developing & evolving over centuries into the bustling salon culture we experience today!