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How accessible is the beauty and hair salon industry?
ClaireOT
Member Posts: 5 Listener
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?
How accessible is the beauty and hair salon industry? 7 votes
I've never had a problem in accessing beauty services
0%
I've had some difficulty in the past with accessing beauty services
14%
1 vote
I always have difficulty accessing beauty services
42%
3 votes
I avoid accessing beauty services and prefer someone to come to my home
42%
3 votes
Replies
https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/87734#Comment_87734
(my vote is on your poll is on behalf of my little girl)
'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.
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.
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!
Scope community team
Scope
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?
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