Anna Cofone, hairstylist and founder of Hair & Care, releases short film uncovering the importance of hair, beauty and personal care for building confidence of low vision and blind people
Earlier this week, Cofone hosted an intimate screening of her new project ‘Beyond Vision’. ‘[The film] is a reminder that beauty, identity, and creativity belong to everyone. At Hair & Care, we believe access to self-expression is a right, not a privilege,’ she said, adding: ‘This film reflects the voices of our incredible community, and is about equality at its core – making sure blind and low-vision women are seen, heard, and included in the spaces where identity and self-expression are shaped.’
The film, which charts one of the CIC’s vital workshops, celebrates identity, self-expression, and visibility for blind and low‑vision people. Whilst those featured in the film are guided through how to style their hair, they are also given the opportunity to voice their thoughts towards current accessibility and equity in beauty.
One attendee, Taylor, says: ‘[There is a] common misconception that visually impaired people don’t care about their appearance. But for me, it makes me care about it even more… If we know that we feel and look good, it gives us reassurance… If I’m looking good, I feel good and I can step out confidently.’
Following its report, ‘A Beauty Industry That Looks Like You’, the British Beauty Council has highlighted representation of, and opportunity for, those with visual and hearing impairments as a key challenge facing the sector.
The findings, from a survey of 4000 people working in beauty, show sight, speech and hearing impairments as the most poorly represented characteristics both in front and behind beauty’s ‘camera’.
As a result, the Council is working with relevant partners to increase equity in this area under its newly appointed ‘Disability and Visible Differences’ taskforce.
Cofone’s Hair & Care film only serves to reinforce the urgent action needed in this space. One designer who has already taken strides is 2020 graduate of Central Saint Martins, Chet Lo, who had worked with the organisation on previous collections. They said: ‘My favourite thing about working with Hair & Care is how it’s been such an amazing introduction into such incredible people. It’s taught me how to be more inclusive and also helped me to understand what this demographic of women need – so it’s helped me to design in a more inclusive and creative way.’
You can watch the film here:
