While being a freelance hairdresser looks different for each professional, what remains consistent for everybody is getting insurance. Granted, hairdressing insurance isn’t the most exciting topic compared with the latest colouring and cutting techniques, but it’s something every freelance hairdressing business needs to protect financially against certain disasters.
Hairdressing, with its various chemicals, hot tools and sharp pairs of scissors, can be dangerous and legal and financial problems can arise as a result.
As a freelance hairdresser, you may work in your client’s homes, in a salon or within the film and TV industry. It can be an exciting way to earn a living with so much flexibility since you have a lot more options at your fingertips.
Some freelance hairdressers also work part-time whilst juggling parenthood, education or another job. Therefore, hairdressing as a side hustle can be a great way to earn money, especially if you have a passion for the industry.
What Insurance Does A Freelance Hairdresser Need
The insurance that a freelancer hairdresser needs is similar to a regular hairdresser in that you should have cover for the treatments you carry out and the equipment that you own. Namely, it includes public liability, product liability, treatment liability and tool insurance.
Firstly, you need to consider where you work. Most freelance hairdressers are mobile, which will mean you will require individual insurance. However, if you rent a salon chair, you may be covered under the salon owner’s insurance. This isn’t a given, which is why you need to check your contract before you start work, as otherwise, it can be a very costly mistake.
Either way, you need to make sure you are covered for the environment you work in since it’s possible to cause damage to a clients’ home, or a member of the public may have an accident when visiting your rent-a-chair business in a salon.
Your kit is also integral to the work that you do since without a hairdryer or even a pair of scissors, and you wouldn’t be able to take any appointments. Tools insurance can be set up specifically for hairdressers and cover your equipment in case of theft or damage. The cover can include items such as straighteners, hairdryers, curling irons, colour and clippers.
Public Liability Insurance Freelance Hairdressers
Public liability insurance is the most common insurance type and is taken out by hairdressers of all kinds, including freelance hairdressers.
The cover offered by public liability insurance relates to injury to a public member or damage to their property. For a freelance hairdresser, this includes if the incident happens within a salon environment or off-premises, offering a broad range of protection given the nature of freelance work.
It’s not a legal requirement to have public liability insurance, though in some cases can be required by your landlord, vendor, suppliers or clients. In fact, some may ask to see a copy of your certificate of insurance as proof that you’re properly covered. At the very least, having public liability insurance will offer you peace of mind since it will cover your legal fees and any compensation payments you’re found liable to pay. Without public liability insurance, you’d have to cover these costs yourself. As a freelance hairdresser with a small business, paying these types of expenses could easily ruin your business.
Scenario: You’re a freelance hairdresser, and a celebrity client wants you to help them get ready at a hotel for a red carpet event. You place a curling iron down on a wooden desk next to a curtain, and it sets on fire. Your client is billed by the hotel and banned from staying there again, also causing them bad publicity. They then sue you for damages for your negligence.
To Sum Up
Becoming a freelance hairdresser can open up a lot of doors for your career, especially if you want to break out of the salon environment. That said, the one thing that can stop you in your tracks is not having insurance since even with extreme care and attention, things can still go wrong.
Insurance – whether it be a public liability, product liability, treatment liability or cover for your tools – will protect you against every eventuality. That way, if a client does take legal action against you, the financial implications will not be a concern. This can make all the difference, seen as legal bills can run into millions of pounds for the most serious cases.
Be sure to take the cover out before you start work, and take the time to read through what you are covered for and what is excluded. And also, remember to declare “business use” on your car insurance if you use it to visit multiple places of work, such as client homes, event venues or multiple salons.
