We’ve all heard the horror stories about beauty treatments going wrong whether it’s a nail infection from a dirty instrument, to torn skin after an overzealous nail technician has got too cuticle happy. I unfortunately have had a personal experience with this.

Then there are the other stories, which frankly make DIY treatments seem like the better option. These include burnt and blistered legs and nether regions, from wax that is too hot or that has been reused from another client.

Research conducted by the Safe Beauty Association (SBA) has also found that over a third of beauty salons have no public liability insurance and are carrying out unsafe practices such as make up artists using old brushes and “double-dipping” leading to the spreading of germs.

Doesn’t make for pleasant reading does it?

Thankfully it seems the beauty industry has woken up to these problems and has launched a new campaign to promote safe beauty practices in the industry.

Called “Hidden Truth. Safe Beauty”, the campaign hopes to change the face of the beauty industry by highlighting how bad hygiene and poor working practice can lead to infections and disease.

From this month the SBA, will provide a range of free and paid-for services to support professionals and encourage them to make changes across the beauty industry. It will also form a code of practice to raise the standard of the industry and ensure these practices are wiped out as quickly as your leg hair during a waxing.

Antonia Hawke founder and chief executive at the SBA said: “Without the ugly truth, there is no motivation to change the norms of the industry. It will take courage and determination to engage with and convince the industry to work towards a more responsible Code or Practice, with health and hygiene at its core. ‘Safe beauty’ is our watchword. And when you think about it, should there ever be any other kind?”