65% of hair stylists have experienced anxiety, burnout or depression during their professional career. To combat this, L’Oréal Professionnel has launched an online educational programme to support the pro community
It’s no secret that clients spill the beans with their hair stylists more than their friends or family – take one look at a recent Refinery29 article ‘Are We All ‘Trauma Dumping’ On Our Hairdressers?’ for confirmation.
Although this support comes free for people sat in the chair, the repercussions for those cutting hair are often forgotten about.
To ensure that hair pros have access to the tools they need to not only set their own boundaries, but also point people who need more mental health support in the right direction, L’Oréal Professionnel has launched its Head Up campaign in the UK.
Initially launched in May of this year, the programme has already been completed by 38,626 stylists. The group hopes that, by the end of 2023, 20 000 hair pros are trained thanks to Head Up Key’s first module and 100,000 by 2025.
‘Hairstylists offer a service that goes beyond a physical transformation as they care, listen, and are here for us. At L’Oréal Professionnel, it is our duty to raise awareness on their mental health and give them tools to build resilience,’ said Anne Machet, International General Manager of L’Oréal Professionnel.
Created in collaboration with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a grassroots mental health organisation based in the US, the course is made up of four eight-minute modules that are easy to digest and can be completed on the go.
This initiatives sits alongside an increasing number of resources designed to help hair professionals spot the signs of challenging mental health in themselves and their clients. In March this year, British Beauty Council affiliate Lions Barber Collective launched its Mental Health Masterclass in collaboration with Timely. Additionally, Sophia Hilton has been offering silent haircuts since 2019 – which are designed to give both clients and hairdressers some ‘me time’.
L’Oréal’s programme is hosted by Hayley Jepson and Daniel Mason Jones. On his involvement, Mason Jones said: ‘As a hair pro myself, I know how mental health can affect pro’s personal and professional lives. The struggles it can cause. So, working to create resources for our community on mental health is a true opportunity for me.’
