How accessible is the beauty and hair salon industry?

ClaireOT

Having recently visited a hair salon, I observed a wheelchair user who was unable to have her hair washed in the basins in her wheelchair. I watched on as two hairdressers drag lifted this lady out of her wheelchair to put her onto their seat so she could have her hair washed. This made me think, where is the fairness, dignity or safety in that? It got me thinking, how accessible is the beauty and hair industry environment? Every body has a right to go out and access services in their community. Engaging in self-care activities (or occupations) are very meaningful to a lot of people. Although there are mobile beauty and hairdressing/barber services that can come to people’s homes if needs be, individuals are willing to pay for the experience and luxury of going out to a salon/barber. There is nothing like being pampered by somebody else, catching up with friends in a social environment and having a catch up over coffee whilst you get your treatment-it is time for yourself. As a student Occupational Therapist as part of a final year project, I am looking into the efficacy of working with the beauty industry to see how accessible businesses' think they are and whether this is something they would like to improve on. Your experiences and opinions would be much appreciated. Have you ever had difficulties in accessing nail/beauty/hair services? 

ClaireOT

Your experiences and opinions are much appreciated. If you would like to say anything in addition to this poll, please feel free. I will be forever grateful! 

nanof6

i cant get into any hair dressers where i live, i go to the collage, locals loss, anyway instead of £15   £20 for a hair cut, it cost me £4. 50p i'm well happy

Blue Frog

I avoid accessing beauty services and prefer someone to come to my home

@ClaireOT have you seen this? Lots of good discussion on a similar issue...

https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/87734#Comment_87734

(my vote is on your poll is on behalf of my little girl)

ClaireOT

Hi both, thanks so much for taking part. 

'nanof6' out of interest, why is it that you can't access the hair dressers where you live? e.g. is it actually getting into the hairdressers that is the problem? Also, if you could click which option you feel answers your experience best on the poll, that would be much appreciated- thank you. 

'Blue Frog', Thank you for taking part in the poll and for sharing the link- I will check it out. 

FluffandFlow

Hi to all,

For me going to salon is not the only way to have a beautiful hair dressed and style, there are now having different product that can help us and do it by own self only in an easy way to keep stay pretty and healthy our hair.

MonSter10

I always have difficulty accessing beauty services

Hi Claire,

Great to read your post here, I did actually Google "accessible salon" with my postcode, what came up was a salon in London (I'm in Manchester) upon reading their info it turned out that they were not accessible after all. I guess that's how inaccessible the hair & beauty industry is. I've been a model, dancer, musician with my own businesses in the past. I'm now a wheelchair user due to the MonSter  (S P Multiple Sclerosis) frantically attempting to find someone other than my ten year old daughter, or husband to cut my hair.  Maybe I'll take the tip of going to the nearest college, thanks nanof6!

GothOnWheels

I'm also struggling with this. so many of the salons i can't even get in the blinking door, let alone anything else. i've even looked into someone coming to my home but sadly because my house isn't wheelchair friendly that's not possible either. i have to go swimming to even wash my hair

rhianarwel

I always have difficulty accessing beauty services

My mother was told today by her hairdresser that she wasn’t able to attend her salon anymore - where she has been a customer for many years. They have no handrail to go up the two steps to the basins. They said they are are not prepared to help her or for her friend to help her as he is “too old”!! They told her she would need to hire a private nurse to accompany her if she wanted to return there. This upset her tremendously and myself actually. Such an important part of maintaining independence and dignity. On the hunt now for an accessible hair dresser in the Cardiff area....

Adrian_Scope

Hi @rhianarwel, welcome to the community and thank you for sharing your mother's experience. It must have been very upsetting for her and frustrating after being a client there for so long. How are you both feeling today?

rhianarwel

I always have difficulty accessing beauty services

Thanks for you reply Adrian, it was very upsetting for her. They dealt with the situation very poorly. Addressing her in the third person while she was present and refusing to make reasonable adaptations to accommodate disabled clients. 
Move contacted the Equality and Human Rights Commission for advice and guidance and have now written a letter of complaint to the salon. Let’s see if they come back with a response!! 
I think businesses don’t accommodate disabled customers as they should be and this needs to be highlighted to push through change. I wonder if any others have had the same treatment?

ClaireOT

Hi Rhiana! 

I’m so sorry to hear about your experience, that must be so upsetting and frustrating for you both. What’s really positive is that you’ve taken it forward. Keep us posted on that reply! 

Claire