New research from L’Oréal Professional Products Division has shown that the close relationship formed by women and their hair stylists is so strong that one in five have been seeing them for more than 11 years – longer than the average UK marriage.
The bond created during a ‘sharecut’ means that women happily discuss relationships, work challenges and general life moments with one in six women sharing personal information with their hairdresser before their own family.
The research was commissioned by L’Oréal Professional Products Division to mark the fourth year of their ‘Hair the Love’ campaign which aims to shine a light on the value of the hairdressing industry and the positive impact that hairdressers can have on people’s physical and mental wellbeing.
L’Oréal is calling for everyone to share the love with their hairdresser and salon this February by posting on social media feeds using #HAIRTHELOVE2022 to show their stylist how much they appreciate them and plan their next salon appointment. The Hair the Love campaign will see L’Oréal Professional Products donate £1 for every social Feed post shared using the hash tag #HAIRTHELOVE2022.*
L’Oréal Professional Products polled 2,000 British people to find out about the closeness of their relationship to their hairdresser and the role that salons play within communities. The ‘Hair the Love’ campaign is being supported by a wide range of celebrities and their hairdressers including TV presenter Emma Willis, who has been with her hairdresser Louis Byrne for more than eight years.
Emma said: “When I sit down in the salon chair, depending on how I am feeling that day I can sit there and be quiet and not have to talk or I can let it all out and it feels like therapy. The relationship between a client and a hairdresser is an important relationship that can make you feel good on the inside. I walk away feeling lifted and with a changed mindset.”
Singer and Songwriter Pixie Lott, who has been with her hairdresser Larry King for 12 years, echoed the sentiment of the research and said: “There definitely has to be a lot of trust between you and your hairdresser because it’s a big deal.
“Over the past 12 years the thing that has given me the most confidence has been embracing my natural hair and I definitely wouldn’t have done it had I not worked with Larry. It is like therapy, you can just spill out how you are feeling.”
Béatrice Dautzenberg, Managing Director L’Oréal Professional Products Division UK & Ireland, said: “”Hairdressers can transform people’s lives and have an immensely positive impact on society’s wellbeing. Our research has shown that people believe that having their hair done professionally supports their mental health and wellbeing.
“It’s a view shared by our ‘Hair The Love’ celebrities like Emma Willis and Pixie Lott. Both explained how their hairdresser inspires confidence and ‘lifts’ them – so a visit to the salon is so good for us all.
“The pandemic has also proved just how important the relationship between clients and their hairdresser is and the ‘Hair The Love’ campaign is about celebrating just how much we appreciate our hairdresser and calls for everyone to post on social, tag their hairdresser and amplify the love.”
Seventy four per cent of females agree that having their hair done professionally supports their mental health and wellbeing with a quarter saying that they missed their regular hair appointments in lockdown.
As a result, a third said they appreciated their hairdresser more now than they had pre pandemic.
Béatrice Dautzenberg, Managing Director L’Oréal Professional Products Division UK & Ireland, said: “Hairdressers not only make people look and feel good, but they also contribute a lot to the economy. In fact, hairdressing services are the largest contributor to the British beauty economy.
“So we also want to highlight what an incredible career hairdressing offers. L’Oréal has partnered with hairdressers for more than 110 years and we are committed to supporting the bright future of an industry full of creative artists who are setting beauty trends and travelling the world.
“We are excited to welcome the next generation of apprentices and students and encourage everyone to discover this truly inspiring vocation. Author and broadcaster Lemn Sissay, who features in the ‘Hair The Love’ film, told us that he believes hair salons are the most creative place on the high street.
“We are so grateful to all of our power couples who are part of the ‘Hair The Love’ video for helping us to share the love and celebrate this beautiful industry, and to all hairdressers for the vital role they are playing within their communities.”
–Watch The Hair The Love Film here, including the nine celebrity power couples – Click here
