Sexualisation of the Industry Feature: Why It’s Time to Talk About What’s Normalised

The beauty industry has long been admired for its creativity, confidence, and self-expression, but there’s a quieter conversation many professionals have learned to tolerate rather than challenge. In this Winter feature, Sue Davies explores how sexualisation has become normalised across salons, clinics, and online spaces, and why that normalisation deserves closer examination.

This article isn’t about blame or outrage. It’s about awareness. Sue invites readers to reflect on how language, imagery, client expectations, and even “harmless jokes” can shape professional boundaries, often without us noticing until discomfort sets in.

For many professionals, this piece will put words to feelings they’ve carried silently: the sense that something doesn’t sit right, even when it’s been accepted for years. The feature encourages thoughtful conversation, stronger boundaries, and a renewed respect for professionalism, without judgement or defensiveness.

If you’ve ever questioned where the line is, or why it feels harder to hold it now than it used to, this article offers space to think clearly and reclaim confidence in your professional identity.

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