<P> A beauty salon or beauty parlor (beauty parlour) (or sometimes beauty shop) is an establishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for men and women . Other variations of this type of business include hair salons and spas . </P> <P> There is a distinction between a beauty salon and a hair salon and although many small businesses do offer both sets of treatments; beauty salons provide extended services related to skin health, facial aesthetic, foot care, nail manicures, aromatherapy,--even meditation, oxygen therapy, mud baths, and many other services . </P> <P> Massage for the body is a popular beauty treatment, with various techniques offering benefits to the skin (including the application of beauty products) and for increasing mental well - being . Hair removal is offered at some beauty salons through treatments such as waxing and threading . Some beauty salons style hair instead of going to a separate hair salon, and some also offer sun tanning . Other treatments of the face are known as facials . Specialized beauty salons known as nail salons offer treatments such as manicures and pedicures for the nails . A manicure is a treatment for the hands, incorporating the fingernails and cuticles and often involving the application of nail polish, while a pedicure involves treatment of the feet, incorporating the toenails and the softening or removal of calluses . </P> <P> Beauty salons have proven to be a recession - proof industry across United States . Although sales had declined from 2008 highs due to the Great Recession, they remain robust with long term positive forecast . Even though during recessions, consumers tend to be more price conscious, spending continues to go increase . With rising per capita incomes across the United States since 2015, beauty salons are booming with the industry generating $56.2 billion in the United States . Hair care is the largest segment with 86,000 locations . Skin care is expected to have revenue of almost $11 billion by 2018 . This growth is being driven in part by a generally increasing awareness of the importance of skin care among American woman, but also specifically due to an increase in the market for men . The market is distributed widely across America, with a concentration in the Northeast and Midwest . There is also a growing trend in boutique salons popping up and leveraging online marketing to gain customers and compete with the franchise chains . The US Labor Department estimates employment in the United States will increase 20% between 2008--2014, with greatest employment growth from skin care specialists . </P>

Operation of a hair salon is an example of