Leading haircare brand L’Oréal Professionnel has debuted their newest initiative, launching a vital mental health resource for hairdressing professionals on September 14, also known as Are You OK Day. Titled Head Up, the cause provide valuable education resources to hairdressers around this topic, speaking to reports that mental health is the hair industry’s most significant global concern.

Head Up is in line with L’Oréal Professionnel’s support of the hairdressing community for over a century and aims to provide support to hairdressers who are often in the role of supporting others, themselves. The brand cites stats that hairdressers spend on average 2000 hours a year listening to clients, and that 75 per cent of clients consider a visit to the salon as an act of self-care, as discovered in internal and external research. Research conducted by the brand also indicates that mental health is the most difficult challenge for hairdressers across six countries, and that 65 per cent of hairdressers have experienced anxiety, burnout or depression during their professional career.

The initiative aims to tackle this issue around the core pillar of education. Hosted by Head Up Co-Developers Hayley Jepson and Daniel Mason Jones, the Head Up training is divided into four eight-minute modules around topics of self-care, setting boundaries and mental health at large. By the end of 2023, the ambition is to train 20,000 hair professionals globally, and 100,000 by 2025. The aim in Australia is to start by training 300 hairdressers and amplify the message beyond that. The first module, Head Up Keys will be available online, through L’Oréal Professionnel’s website, YouTube and on the L’Oréal learning platform, titled ACCESS, as free training for the hair industry.

The initiative launched with 20 L’Oréal Professionnel artists and head office staff debuting professionally photographed images on social media communicating the Head Up rallying sign- a gesture that means ‘hope’ in sign language, which is also used in yoga to ground oneself. All hair artists are encouraged to share this message on social media, with more awareness campaigns to come.

The platform extends the brand’s ongoing commitment to hair professionals at every level, most recently with the Stand for Pros initiative that supported hair professionals with free e-learning and emotional comfort during the difficulties of forced closures and revenue loss during the pandemic.

Spread the word on this important platform to centre mental health and support the industry in this vital cause.

For more information visit www.lorealprofessionnel.com.au/head-up

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