Can a visit to the hair dresser improve your mental health?
Almost every week, when my hair needs trimming, I go to the salon and sit there, listening to the regulars share their stories and laughter. Having my hair and nails done was never just about grooming, it was a very unpredictable social experiment. There were even times that I would go to the salon after work just to catch up with the girls and have nothing done at all. Everybody experiences salons, barbershops, and beauty parlors differently.
Beauty services and mental health?…
Most people will admit that their visit to the salon will nine out of ten times be about the feel-good factor, the calm and the freedom that comes with it, instead of solely the grooming and the pampering factor. This left me wondering whether there is a therapeutic element that improves our overall wellness. After reviewing a prolific study from The University College London paper called “Is having a haircut good for your mental health?” I got the answers to my questions.
Hair Dressers and Beauticians are Easier to Talk To Study Finds!
The study was conducted by Tamika Roper (MSc) and Dr. John Barry. It included 202 participants with 58 being male and 144 were females. In the survey, there were questions like, “I often talk to my barber/hairdresser about personal matters”, “I often go to the barber/hairdresser just because I have a problem and I want to speak to my barber/hairdresser about it” and “I walk in to the barbershop/hairdresser without booking an appointment”. all the questions were answered on a scale from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree.
it was evident that Black males socialized and talked more than any other group, they were also the most likely to visit the hairstylist for reasons other than haircuts, as opposed to the white males. On the other hand, females socialized and talked as much as each other, despite their race.
A Fresh Haircut Renews Your Wellbeing
Based on these findings, visiting the hairdresser’s or barber’s can contribute to the improvement of wellbeing. It takes trust when allowing a stylist or barber to touch your hair. This is a large attribute when it comes to opening up about personal issues to them. There was a time when customers would not allow anyone but their favorite barber to cut their hair. This is because there is a comfortability and connection with your stylist, other than the ability to do a good job.
Aside from that, a new haircut leaves us feeling fresh and fabulous. We leave the salon feeling beautiful and clean which pumps up the perception we have about ourselves. The open setting to discuss personal matters with our hairdresser or barber, and get unbiased opinions, is a crucial factor in bringing mental clarity. But, Are hairdressers and barbers qualified to advise customers on personal matters? Do they have a good level of mental health knowledge to identify mental health problems? Or do they even need to?
Some questions are more important than others, but the fact remains that a Saturday can be a long day for most. This time could be a great time to observe and participate in this social experiment. A visit to a hairdresser help you improve your general well being, or change your perception of barbers and hairdressers.
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