Beauty: the self-made entrepreneurs navigating Covid-19
What does it take to be in the business of beauty? As an extension of our photostory, THE FACE spent time with six specialist salon-owners during a second national lockdown to find out.
Video
Words: Jade Wickes
Director: Millie Gray
When the UK went into a standstill during the first national lockdown, beauty salons duly shut up shop – only to be sidelined by the government once social distancing measures eased.
Pubs can reopen, you say? Barbers, too? What about the beauty industry, which brings billions of pounds to the economy each year and operates on a heavily-sanitised, by-appointment-only basis?
Almost eight-months into the pandemic, we photographed British beauty workers and salon owners affected by Covid-19. Here, THE FACE revisits them. We speak to Tanaycious Skin in East London, Lashes by Livvy in Loughton, Nuka Nails in West London, and The Beauty Room and Env Aesthetics in Brentwood in more depth: about the effects of lockdown on their mental health, and their feelings towards the actions of the British government.
This is a film that sets the record straight by telling the stories of women who, in the face of adversity, have pursued their dreams and built successful careers doing what they love the most (and do the best): beauty.
Director and Editor Millie Gray Executive Producers Jennifer Byrne and Brooke McCord
Producer Rosanna Gouldman Production Assistant Jade Wickes DOP Anna Gudbrands
Sound Recordist Dubheasa Lanipekun Gaffers Tanya Ringer and Isobel Jones Runner/Driver Grace Snellock Grade Karol Cybulski @ CHEAT Sound design and mix Tom Parker @ OPM Motion Design and Graphics Rachel Noble
Featuring Harriet Lewis-Brooks from The Beauty Room Brentwood, Khatereh Dovani from ENV Aesthetics, Olivia Jay from Lashes by Livvy, Anouska Anastasia and Kadimah Aaliyah from Nuka Nails, Taneesha Aiyeola from Tanaycious Skin
Special thanks to Hazel Gaskin, Carla Thomas and Oliver Pearson
