Nearly half of all women in the UK (44%) reported that they have struggled to work from menopause symptoms. With one in three women suffering from the menopause at any one time, it’s time to break any negative stigma to support both affected clients and your team. We’ve therefore provided top tips to help manage menopause symptoms in the salon and spa.
Educate your team of menopause symptoms
According to BMC Women’s Health, the main menopause symptoms experienced by working women are hot flushes (73%), tiredness (63%), a low mood (48%), lack of concentration (47%) and forgetfulness (43%). This is in addition to other known symptoms, including weight gain, skin and hair changes, and depression. It’s important you teach your team these symptoms, so they can cater to affected clients appropriately.
Combat menopause symptoms with spa treatments
Once your team are aware of the menopause symptoms, you can implement treatments that cater to them. Many clients will be looking for relaxing salon and spa treatments to take them away from the stresses and strains they’re feeling. You could implement several packages specifically for those undergoing the menopause symptoms, including treatments such as:
- Hydro massages – to rehydrate drying skin from the menopause
- Stimulation massages – to combat muscle fatigue
- Acupuncture – to help relieve joint and muscle tension
- Guided meditation – to relieve anxiety
- Reflexology – to reduce hot flushes and night sweats
- Aromatherapy – to decrease hot flushes from lavender scents
- Exercise classes – yogi, Pilates and swimming all aid sleep quality and tackle depression.
Implement specific beauty products in the salon and spa
Products with natural skincare ingredients are also wonderful for those with sensitive skin caused by the menopause, whereas products focusing on hair follicle stimulants will help with thinning hair caused by a drop in oestrogen. As the menopause impacts everyone differently, it’s worth providing multiple packages or one where you can swap various treatments depending on the needs of the client, and whether they are express beauty treatments or standard beauty treatments.
Find out the client’s needs in their consultation
When your client is on-site, remember to talk with them to make sure their needs are met. The consultation is a great place to find out what sensitivities they may have, caused by menopause symptoms, and what they want out of their treatment (a face mask may be the last thing they want if they’re experiencing hot flushes, for example). Using our advice on how to perfect your consultation, this conversation will set expectations and aid clients in relaxing during the treatment.
Support your own team with open communication
Did you know that 10% of women leave their jobs due to a lack of support for menopause symptoms? Even more shockingly, 90% of employed women stated their workplace offers no support to those suffering from the menopause. That’s why it’s crucial to put measures in place to support not just your clients, but also your team.
As members in your team may be hesitant to talk about the menopause, opening communication in regular one-to-ones is a good first step. You can then talk about what will help them best and implement a system to support them. For example, consider how their current day is organised and offer a more flexible rota for the short-term, or provide time out for them in the day to cool down from any hot flushes. Everyone will be different, so make sure you cater to each member of the team.
Premier Software, part of Journey Hospitality, offers a range of systems to help set up new treatments and support both clients and staff alike. Core by Premier Software® can offer this for spas and wellness businesses in a hotel environment, whereas Salon by Premier Software® can assist hair and beauty businesses. To find out how Premier Software’s solutions can help, book a free presentation for more.
