Observational Study in Ten Beauty Salons: Results Informing Development of the North Carolina BEAUTY and Health Project

Abstract

Researchers from the North Carolina BEAUTY and Health Project conducted an observational study in 10 North Carolina beauty salons to gain insight into naturally occurring conversations between cosmetologists and customers, and to assess features of the salon environment that might be used to inform the development of salon-based health promotion interventions. Results revealed that the social environment of a salon is a place where cosmetologists and customers talk openly about many subjects, including health. Information, advice, appraisal, humor, and empathy are typically shared in these health conversations. Several features of the physical environment of the salon may be mobilized to support health--access to healthy foods, snacks, and beverages; smoking restrictions; and availability of print or video materials, signs, or displays that include healthy messages. Implications for planning salon-based health promotion interventions--including the training of licensed cosmetologists to deliver health messages--are discussed in light of these findings.

Hairstylists' experience with chronic hair pulling

“…However, despite this willingness, the former results suggest that the onus may be on mental health providers to provide contact information to hairstylists to facilitate treatment referrals as hairstylists often have limited knowledge of the availability of metal health services in their communities (Anderson et al, in press;Solomon et al, 2004). Considerable variability was found in how hairstylists have heard of TTM.…”

Community stroke knowledge: a new information strategy using a joint project of the public health service and the hairdressers’ guild of the Wesel district

“…In 2001, a US study was moreover carried out on the use of beauty salons for the "North Carolina BEAUTY and Health Project" (Linnan et al 2001;Solomon et al 2004). It recommended partnership-based cooperation between the health sector and the cosmetics industry for health promotion projects.…”

Schlaganfallprävention

“…Als persön-liche Kommunikatoren wurde der Berufsstand der Frisöre herangezogen. Pilotstudien in den USA hatten gezeigt, dass eine Kooperation mit Frisören oder Kosmetiksalons zu Themen der Gesundheitsförderung und gesundheitlichen Aufklä-rung sinnvoll und wirksam sein kann [5,14,15].…”

“…Welche Überlegungen führten beispielsweise dazu, Frisöre als Multiplikatoren für ein Public-Health-Programm im Kreis Wesel zu gewinnen? Wie eingangs erwähnt, konnten Public-Health-Studien in den USA zeigen, dass Themen der Gesundheitsförderung und Prävention durchaus seriös und wirksam in Zusammenarbeit mit Frisören und Kosmetiksalons bearbeitet werden können [5,14,15]. Frisörsalons sind darüber hinaus flächen-deckend in allen Städten und Gemeinden vertreten.…”