Emotional Work in Hair and Beauty Salons
Hair and beauty salon workers are in frequent contact with diverse members of the community
This project looks at the role that salon workers play in the emotional lives of their clients. It also looks at how salon workers are in a unique position to help address important social issues such as family violence, mental health, and social isolation.
The project is led by Dr Hannah McCann at the University of Melbourne and is funded by the Australian Research Council.
What role do salon workers play in the emotional lives of their clients?
If you work in the hair or beauty industry or are simply a regular client of a hair or beauty salon, we want to hear from you!
In addition to investigating emotional work in salons, this project looks at ways to connect community services with salon professionals. If you work in a community organisation and would like to know more about the project or get involved, please let us know.
How has Covid-19 impacted experiences of visiting or working in hair or beauty salons?
Since the beginning of the pandemic Covid-19 restrictions have changed people’s routines and regular access to hair and beauty services. During 2020 many salon professionals also found themselves out of work.
The first part of this project involved a survey conducted between July and September 2020 on the impact of COVID-19 on experiences of visiting and working in salons. Take a look at the results here.
“Beauty therapists…provide a listening service to their clients and form relationships which, although more distant than friendships, are more intimate than those formed in other service sectors”
— Paula Black, The Beauty Industry, 2004
