Hair loss services for salons and barbershops
Do you want to add hair loss solutions to the services your salon or barbershop provides? Find out what’s on offer and explore the various options available.
Hair loss facts
Did you know…
- Hair loss is estimated to affect up to half of all women at some point in their lives
- 40% of men have noticeable hair loss by the age of 35, rising to two thirds by 60
- Alopecia areata (or patches of baldness) affects one person in 100
And, of course, hair loss is often associated with treatments for cancer.
The fact hair loss is so common means most stylists and barbers will already have experience of supporting and advising clients who have visited their salon or barbershop.
But if you’re seriously considering adding hair loss solutions to your business’ list of services, then why don’t you attend an NHBF hair loss work shop to explore the different options available?
From simple retail solutions to hair extensions, hair integrations, wigs and even clinical partnerships, a hair loss workshop will give you an overview of the options, plus hands-on experience with each product.
Hair loss services available to salon and barbershop clients
‘Hair loss services’ can mean a range of different things and different types or levels of service – everything from simple advice and guidance to clients, through to hair extensions, hair systems, wigs and full-blown specialist trichology services.
What is trichology?
Trichology is the study of the hair and scalp, including hair loss and scalp conditions and disorders. Trichology can improve client care and provide opportunities for additional services, so if you are looking to add hair loss services to your business, then it’s something you really should know about.
Adding hair loss services to your business
If you think hair loss support might be a valuable addition to your menu of services, it is important to think carefully about how deep you want to dive into what can be a complex area.
Hair loss specialist Simone Thomas emphasises…
“It takes years to understand hair loss properly, just as it takes years to become a good hairdresser. It is not an easy option to add to your salon; it is a real skill,” she explains.
Simone’s advice:
- It is a good idea for salons to understand and know more about common scalp disorders and when to refer clients to a trichologist
- Taking on hair loss as a service, and doing it properly can be very challenging within a salon environment
- It is not like learning to wash and blow dry. Every client is going to be different, will have different medication and health issues
Simone points out she is not a hairdresser, but a dedicated hair loss specialist with a decade’s experience and is currently training to become a registered consultant trichologist with TrichoCare.
On the topic of adding hair loss services to your salon or barbershop, Eva Proudman, specialist hair consultant at wig maker and hair extension supplier Banbury Postiche advises there are three key questions you need to ask if you are considering adding hair loss services to your business:
- What is it you want to offer?
- How are you going to offer it?
- And who are you going to be offering it to?
How are you going to offer hair loss services?
“For example, if you’re going to offer a wig service you need to have a quiet, secluded space, at the very least a screened off area, or to offer it as a service outside normal salon hours,” Eva advises. Eva explains that there can also be other questions to consider, including:
- Is it going to be a service that supports clients who have hair loss for a medical reason?
- Is it going to be female- or male-based, or both?
- Could it be a service for children?
- Or people who identify as transgender?
- Is it going to be solely about products, perhaps just hair fibre extensions, integrated clip-ons or ready-to-wear, off-the-peg wigs?
- Or is it going to be more than that?
- Who, or how much of the business, is going to be involved? Is it just going to be you, the owner, or others and what sort of training will be required?
“For me it comes down to the three ‘Is’: investigate, invest, and implement. Investigate all the questions above. Consider how much you are willing to invest in this – time and money – and keep a review of it; are you getting a return on your investment? And think about a phased implementation, so doing it slowly.”
Advising clients on the psychological impacts of hair loss
If a client of your salon or barbershop confides in you about the psychological impacts of hair loss rather than a hair loss service, there are some steps you can take to encourage them to talk:
Join a support group
Online groups around the country specifically for people suffering with hair loss will encourage your client to relate to others in the same situation. A number of charities, such as Alopecia UK, have support groups and online forums where they will be able to talk to others who are experiencing hair loss.
Speak to close family and friends
Encourage your client to discuss their hair loss with friends, family and loved ones so they can let them know how they feel about it and what kind of support they think they will need.
Let us help you grow your business
In addition to attending our events to grow your business (including our hair loss work shop), why don’t you take a look at all the other ways we can help you by viewing our Member Benefits today.