Rising Energy Costs Are Increasing Pressure On UK Salons
NHBF State Of The Sector Survey 2026
The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) has warned that ongoing energy market volatility could place further pressure on already fragile UK hair and beauty businesses.
According to the latest NHBF State of the Sector survey:
- 54.8% of businesses said they were either just breaking even or already making a loss
- Only 7.8% said they were making a good profit
- 72.6% expect to increase prices over the next three months
- 30.3% described business as quieter or really quiet
The NHBF identified energy costs as one of the biggest financial pressures facing salons, barbershops and beauty businesses across the UK.
Caroline Larissey, NHBF Chief Executive, said in a recent post:
“Hair and beauty businesses are resilient, but resilience does not mean that action isn’t needed.”
The report highlights continued pressure from:
- Energy costs
- Wage increases
- National Insurance increases
- Premises costs
- Weak consumer demand
- Wider operational overheads
Source: National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF), State of the Sector Survey, April 2026.
Why UK Salons Are Reviewing Operational Costs
Many salon owners are reviewing day-to-day operational systems as costs continue to rise across the industry.
Areas increasingly being reviewed include:
- Utility usage
- Labour allocation
- Workflow efficiency
- Resource management
- Laundry operations
- Water consumption
- Daily overheads
Traditional cotton salon towel systems involve:
- Washing
- Drying
- Folding
- Electricity usage
- Water usage
- Detergents
- Machine maintenance
- Staff time
- Towel storage
As energy prices fluctuate, these operational systems continue to contribute to overall salon running costs.
The Operational Impact Of Salon Laundry
Based on Easydry operational analysis of a typical 6-stylist salon, businesses could reduce approximately:
Typical Salon Laundry Usage Per Year
- 144,000 litres of laundry water usage annually
- 7,135.2 kWh of energy usage annually
- £6,463.57 in operational costs annually
- 15% of employee time previously spent managing laundry
The comparison below outlines some of the operational differences between traditional cotton towel laundry systems and Easydry compostable towels.
| Area | Traditional Cotton Towels | Easydry Compostable Towels |
|---|---|---|
| Water usage | Requires repeated washing throughout the week, increasing overall fresh water consumption. | NO laundry water usage. Helps reduce water consumption linked to salon towel washing. |
| Energy usage | Requires regular washing and drying cycles, contributing to ongoing salon utility costs. | NO towel washing or drying cycles. Helps reduce salon energy usage and utility bills. |
| Labour time | Staff spend time washing, drying, folding, storing and restocking towels. | Less staff time spent managing laundry. Teams can focus more on client services. |
| Operational costs | Ongoing costs include electricity, water, detergent, machine use, servicing and staff time. | Reduced laundry-related operational costs. Removes traditional towel washing and drying from daily salon operations. |
| Detergent usage | Requires detergent, softener and laundry chemicals on an ongoing basis. | NO detergent or laundry chemicals required for towel washing. |
| Machine dependency | Relies on washing machines and dryers that require servicing, electricity and maintenance. | No need for washing machines and dryers. |
| Storage space | Requires storage for clean towels, used towels, laundry baskets and drying areas. | Easydry towels are up to 4x more compact than cotton towels, helping reduce storage demands. |
| Workflow efficiency | Laundry can create bottlenecks, towel shortages and additional back-of-house tasks during busy periods. | Fresh towels ready for every client. Helps support smoother salon workflow. |
| Hygiene | Hygiene standards depend on washing, drying, handling and storage being completed consistently. | Fresh personal Easydry towel for every client. |
| Client experience | Towel softness, absorbency and appearance can vary depending on age and repeated washing. | Consistent softness, absorbency and presentation for every client. |
| Sustainability | Reusable towel systems require ongoing water and energy consumption through laundry. | Made from FSC®-certified fibres, 100% compostable and supplied by a B Corp Certified company. |
| Cost control | Laundry costs can increase alongside rising energy, water and labour costs. | More predictable towel system with reduced laundry dependency. |
For many salons, towel laundry operates continuously in the background each day, consuming utilities, labour and operational time.
Removing Traditional Towel Laundry From Salon Operations
Easydry towels are single-use, highly absorbent and 100% compostable.
That means salons can remove:
- Washing
- Drying
- Folding
- Laundry backlog
- Towel shortages
- Dependency on washing consistency between clients
Each client receives a fresh hygienic towel every time.
Easydry towels are:
- Made from FSC®-certified fibres
- B Corp Certified
- Designed with WaterWeave™ absorbency technology
- Built with UATT wet-strength technology
Easydry supplies salons, spas, barbers and academies across more than 25 countries.
Salon Hygiene, Sustainability And Workflow Efficiency
Many salons are continuing to focus on:
- Hygiene standards
- Sustainability goals
- Utility reduction
- Workflow consistency
- Client experience
- Operational efficiency
Easydry towels support salons looking to reduce traditional towel laundry while maintaining a professional and hygienic client experience.
Our towels are:
- Soft and highly absorbent
- Suitable across hair, barbering, beauty and spa services
- 100% compostable
- Manufactured using FSC®-certified fibres sourced from responsibly managed forests
Why More Salons Are Reviewing Laundry Systems
The latest NHBF findings reflect continued pressure across the UK hair and beauty sector.
As salons review:
- Utility costs
- Labour costs
- Daily operational systems
- Resource usage
- Workflow management
traditional towel laundry is increasingly becoming one area under closer consideration.
Removing traditional towel laundry can help simplify salon operations while reducing water usage, energy consumption and staff time linked to washing and drying.
Request A Free Easydry Sample Pack
If you would like to learn more about Easydry towels or request a free sample pack, contact our team today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much water does salon laundry use annually?
Based on Easydry operational analysis, a typical 6-stylist salon can use up to 144,000 litres of water annually through towel laundry alone.
What did the NHBF State of the Sector survey find?
The NHBF survey found that 54.8% of businesses were either just breaking even or already making a loss.
Why are UK salons reviewing operational costs in 2026?
Many salons are managing rising costs linked to energy, wages, National Insurance and wider operational overheads.
Can salons reduce traditional towel laundry?
Single-use towel systems such as Easydry can remove washing, drying and folding from salon towel operations.
Are Easydry towels compostable?
Yes. Easydry towels are made from FSC®-certified fibres and are certified 100% compostable with TÜV Austria OK compost HOME and OK compost INDUSTRIAL certifications. Easydry towels are also certified to the Seedling standard EN 13432 for industrial compostability.
Are Easydry towels made from FSC®-certified fibres?
Yes. Easydry towels are manufactured using FSC®-certified fibres sourced from responsibly managed forests.
Is Easydry B Corp Certified?
Yes. Easydry became the first disposable towel company to achieve B Corp Certification in 2022 and was successfully recertified in 2025.
Where are Easydry towels used?
Easydry supplies salons, spas, barbers and academies across more than 25 countries.
