The concept of beauty as medicine takes root. Research from Euromonitor is already illustrating this shift, revealing that 50% of global consumers now define beauty as ‘looking healthy’. As this relationship between self-care and healthcare evolves, the pursuit of beauty will become a wider function of taking care of oneself both mentally and physically.
Salon spaces and staff training are changing the meaning of ‘beauty therapy’ as trust, client safety and their wellbeing become integral to salon services. This emerges as some 43% of haircare professionals describe themselves as ‘ critical to their clients’ mental health.
Indeed, therapists are extending their duty of care-and the typical services provided-far beyond salon walls. In San Diego, Angelica B Beauty is positioning its salon as safe space for its community of women clients to find respite, relax and chat freely about everything from skin conditions to sexual wellness and motherhood.
In the UK, The Lions Barber Collective is a mental health charity that offers its BarberTalk training to hair stylists to help them recognize, listen to and quite conversations about mental wellbeing with male clients. Barbers are also equipped with knowledge of charities and organizations they can suggest to clients when needed.
In a similar vein, Florida Department of Health has launched training focused on supporting salon clients’ mental and physical health. Barbers and stylists will learn about hair and scalp health as an indicator of overall wellbeing-hair dryness or bald spots can indicate changes in hormones or early signs of disease.
The fusion of wellbeing and wellness into beauty has almost created a new category. How you look and how you feel are now intrinsically linked, with beauty products and services able to help people remain buoyant, find balance and reach their peak.
