How to get HABD Verified

There is no separate application form. Verification is carried out through your HABD business profile.

Not an HABD member yet?

1. Join HABD

Create your account and become an HABD member.

2. Activate your business profile

Complete and activate the profile for the business or professional you want to have verified.

3. Complete your profile

Fill in all required information about your business, services and professional activity.

4. Upload your evidence

Upload your current insurance and the qualifications or other professional evidence required for your type of business.

5. We'll automatically pick it up

HABD monitors profile changes. Once the required information and evidence are complete, your profile will automatically be picked up for verification.

Button: Join HABD

Already an HABD member?

You don't need to apply separately.

1. Check your profile

Make sure all required fields are complete and your business information is accurate and up to date.

2. Check your insurance

Make sure your current insurance document is uploaded and has not expired.

3. Check your qualifications

Make sure the relevant qualification certificates or professional evidence for your business type have been uploaded.

4. Complete anything that's missing

Check that HABD has all the information and evidence required for your type of business.

5. We'll automatically pick it up

Once the required fields and evidence are complete, your profile will automatically be picked up for verification.

Button: Check My Profile

What happens next?

We check your evidence

HABD checks the documents and information you've provided through your profile.

We check your professional standards

We then carry out the checks required for your type of business. These can include your website, reviews, professional claims, pricing, online presence and wider professional reputation.

We make a decision

If you meet the HABD Verification Standard, your Verified status is activated.

If we need further information or evidence, we'll contact you.

If your business does not currently meet the standard, HABD Verified status will not be awarded.

What do I need to become Verified?

The requirements are different depending on what you do.

Find your business type below to see what you need to provide and what HABD will check.

Salons, clinics & professional service businesses

This includes hair and beauty salons, nail salons, barbers, spas, skin and aesthetics clinics and other businesses providing professional services directly to clients.

You must provide

• Current insurance appropriate to the business and services provided.
• At least one relevant professional qualification supporting the main services offered by the business.
• Any licence or professional registration legally required for the business or services where applicable.
• A complete and active HABD business profile.

HABD will check

Reviews

Your overall public review rating must be 4 stars or above.

We will also look for serious or recurring concerns within your reviews that could raise questions about professional standards.

Website and online presence

We check that your business has a genuine professional presence and that the information presented to clients is clear and consistent.

Professional claims

Claims about qualifications, expertise, treatments, results, awards and professional recognition must be accurate and supportable.

Pricing

Pricing should be clear and credible for the services being offered. Pricing that raises concerns about professional practice or standards may require further assessment.

Professional reputation

We look at the wider public picture of the business, including reviews, visible professional work, client information and relevant online activity.

Important

Verification of a business does not automatically mean that HABD has individually verified every employee, treatment or qualification connected with that business.

Your live verification record will show exactly what has been checked.

Independent, mobile & home-based professionals

This includes self-employed hairdressers, barbers, beauty therapists, nail professionals, lash and brow professionals, makeup artists, massage therapists, skin professionals and others working independently.

You must provide

• Current professional insurance covering the services you provide.
• At least one relevant professional qualification supporting your main professional activity.
• Any legally required licence or registration where applicable.
• A complete and active HABD profile.

HABD will check

Reviews

Your overall public review rating must be 4 stars or above.

We will also consider serious or recurring concerns raised in reviews.

Professional presence

You must have an identifiable professional presence through your website, booking system, business page or professional social media.

Professional claims

Your qualifications, experience, services, results and other professional claims must be represented accurately.

Pricing and client information

Clients should be able to understand the services you provide, your pricing and relevant booking information.

Professional work and reputation

We look at your visible work and wider professional reputation to ensure it is consistent with the professional standards represented by HABD Verified.

You do not need to operate from a salon premises to become HABD Verified.

Education & training providers

This includes academies, training providers and businesses providing professional education within the hair, beauty, aesthetics, wellness and related industries.

You must provide

• Current appropriate business or professional insurance.
• Relevant qualifications and professional experience in the subject being taught.
• An appropriate recognised or regulated teaching or training qualification.
• Evidence of current independent accreditation where courses are advertised as accredited.
• A complete HABD business profile.

HABD will check

Your professional expertise

The people responsible for delivering training must have appropriate knowledge, qualifications and experience in the subject they teach.

Your courses

Courses must have credible content, learning outcomes, duration and assessment appropriate to the subject.

Practical training

Where a skill requires practical competency, appropriate practical teaching and assessment must form part of the training.

Accreditation

Where a course is advertised as accredited, HABD will check the accreditation being claimed.

Student information

Course information, certification and claims about what students will achieve or be qualified to do must be clear and accurate.

Website and professional claims

We check your website, marketing, reviews and wider professional reputation.

Brands & suppliers

This includes professional brands, product companies, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and suppliers operating within the industry.

You must provide

• Evidence of a genuine trading business.
• Current appropriate business insurance.
• Relevant compliance information for the products or services you supply where required.
• A complete HABD business profile.

HABD will check

Your business

We check that there is a genuine trading business behind the brand or supplier.

Your website

Your website should clearly identify the business, what it supplies and how customers can contact you.

Product and professional claims

Claims about products, ingredients, performance, professional use, results and benefits must be responsible and supportable.

Products and sourcing

Where relevant, we look at available information relating to manufacture, sourcing, distribution and supply.

Customer information

Relevant policies, purchasing information, terms and returns should be clearly available.

Reviews and reputation

We check public feedback and look for significant or recurring concerns about the business or its products.

Marketing

Advertising and professional claims must not materially mislead professionals or consumers.

Coaches, consultants & mentors

This applies to people and businesses selling professional expertise, business advice, coaching, consultancy or mentoring within the industry.

You must provide

• A clearly defined area of professional expertise.
• Evidence of relevant professional experience.
• Evidence supporting the expertise and services you offer.
• Appropriate professional insurance where required.
• A complete HABD profile.

HABD will check

Your professional history

Your experience must support the area of expertise you are selling.

Your expertise

We look for credible evidence of knowledge and professional experience within your stated field.

Your claims

Claims about experience, expertise, achievements and client outcomes must be accurate and supportable.

Evidence of your work

This may include genuine client work, case studies, professional achievements or other evidence relevant to the services you provide.

Website and marketing

Your services, professional claims, pricing and significant terms should be presented clearly.

Reviews and reputation

We check available reviews and wider professional reputation.

A large social media following alone is not evidence of professional expertise.

Event organisers

This includes organisers of professional exhibitions, conferences, awards, competitions and other hair, beauty, aesthetics and wellness industry events.

You must provide

• Details of the business or organisation responsible for the event.
• Appropriate insurance where required.
• Clear details of the event or events you organise.
• A complete HABD business profile.

HABD will check

The organiser

We check the business or organisation responsible for the event and its professional or event history.

Event information

Dates, venues, formats and other significant information must be accurately represented.

Pricing and booking

Ticket prices, entry fees and significant booking conditions should be clearly available.

Cancellation and refunds

Relevant cancellation and refund information should be available to attendees or entrants.

Awards and competitions

Where applicable, claims about judging, prizes, categories, recognition and professional status must be accurate.

Speakers, judges and exhibitors

People and businesses promoted as participating in an event should be represented accurately.

Reviews and reputation

We look at previous events, public feedback and any significant concerns relating to the organiser.

Marketing

Event marketing must not materially mislead attendees, entrants, exhibitors or other industry professionals.

What happens when I'm approved?

Once your verification is approved, you receive:

• HABD Verified status on your profile.
• A unique HABD verification number.
• A live public verification record showing your current status.
• Details of what HABD has checked and the scope of your verification.
• The HABD Verified mark displayed on your directory profile.
• A digital HABD Verified trust mark for your own website, linked to your live verification record.
• Verified social media assets to use on your professional channels.
• Visibility as HABD Verified within The Hair & Beauty Directory.

Verification is reviewed annually to ensure the information and evidence behind it remain current.

Keeping your Verified status

HABD Verified is an ongoing standard, not a one-off badge.

You must:

• Keep required insurance current.
• Keep your HABD profile accurate.
• Update relevant professional information when it changes.
• Continue to meet the HABD Verification Standard.
• Follow the HABD Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct.

HABD may review a verification earlier if significant information changes or a serious professional concern is raised.

Ready to get Verified?

Already an HABD member?

Check your profile, make sure all required information is complete and ensure your current insurance and relevant professional evidence have been uploaded.

Once everything required is in place, we'll automatically pick your profile up for verification.

Button: Check My Profile

Not an HABD member?

Join HABD and activate your business profile. Once your profile and required evidence are complete, it will automatically enter the verification process.