THE 10 MINUTE CHAT

Will Brown is a salon owner and men’s hairdresser, and in our 10 Minute Chat he explains why he is focusing on mental health training in his salon and spreading the message far and wide

WHAT’S YOUR CAREER BACKGROUND?

I’m an award-winning salon owner of Will Brown Hair in Henlow, Bedfordshire. I’ve presented my work on national stages, worked on photo shoots and won personal and business accolades. But I’ve done all this whilst living with some debilitating mental health issues and it’s been hard at times.

WHAT LED YOU TO MAKING MENTAL HEALTH A TOP PRIORITY IN YOUR BUSINESS?

After a long journey of overcoming personal battles with OCD, anxiety and ADHD, I filmed a video in my salon with Oly Newton, a Mental Health First Aider sharing our experience. The response on social media really highlighted the necessity for more vital training within our industry so I set about making this happen.

WHAT CAME NEXT?

I created Open Chair, working alongside Lights On Mental Health. Oly Newton is our educator – he is an experienced motivational speaker and Mental Health First Aid trainer through Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. Oly has shared his story with thousands of business, corporate and student audiences across the country and, having experienced severe mental health issues for the duration of his life, he now motivates others through sharing his own experiences and advice.

WHAT ARE THE KEY SIGNS A CLIENT IS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH?

Knowing the signs can be difficult. It is really important to follow their lead and not provoke a reaction. If their mood is out of character, then perhaps ask them “are you ok today?” rather than “you alright?”. This has more empathy and could encourage them to fully answer the question.

WHAT DIRECT ACTION CAN YOU TAKE TO HELP A CLIENT YOU THINK IS STRUGGLING WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH?

Firstly, you must make them aware that you are not a qualified psychiatrist, counsellor or therapist. Hairdressers and barbers are often the first port of call for an open conversation so if you feel it’s appropriate, you can direct them down the correct avenue. Signposting your clients to wellbeing apps and websites such as Headspace and Calm can provide havens of escape. Hub Of Hope can provide your client with access to charities, organisations and services in your local area, using a simple postcode search, specific to the issues they are dealing with. Not all clients feel safe to be vulnerable straight away, so always build trust before attempting to start the conversation. A good way of doing this is by being open yourself. If you have opened up to your client, the first barrier has been broken down which could enable your client to reciprocate their experiences.

HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR SALON A SAFE SPACE FOR CLIENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES?

Some clients with mental health issues such as anxiety don’t always enjoy the salon experience. Designated quiet zones can provide a client with less intense surroundings. Offering ‘quiet sessions’ or ’silent appointments’ at dedicated times of the week can encourage an anxious client to book during these less intrusive times. At William Brown Hair our biggest commitment to our clients is dedicating the whole appointment time to them. We have no clients between colour and cuts, ensuring not only a bespoke hairdressing service but also committed time to our clients. Whatever positive impact you provide, it is important to use your social media channels to shout about these options. It is great for your reputation to show you care for your clients and offer unique services to accommodate our fragile society.

“HAIRDRESSERS AND BARBERS ARE OFTEN THE FIRST PORT OF CALL FOR AN OPEN CONVERSATION SO IF YOU FEEL IT’S APPROPRIATE, YOU CAN DIRECT THEM DOWN THE CORRECT AVENUE.”

HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT YOU PROTECT YOURSELF/YOUR BUSINESS?

As much as we want to help our clients, you need to make sure that you don’t break GDPR or employment contract rules by contacting clients outside of your column. Mental health symptoms often cross over so ensure the advice you are giving is purely based on an emotional connection, you should never give out any formal advice or diagnoses. Mental health issues affect 1 in 4 people, so by understanding these issues yourself I believe you can safeguard your own mental health at the same time.

WHAT IMPACT HAS THE PANDEMIC HAD ON THE INDUSTRY’S MENTAL HEALTH?

The personal care sector was one of the worst affected industries by Covid-19. If we ever needed proof of how essential our services are both physically and mentally, think back to the queues of men and women lining the streets from midnight to get their hair cut! Society’s mental health has declined with around a third of people reporting that their own mental health is worse now compared to 2020. Other shocking stats include 88% of young people saying loneliness has affected their mental health since lockdowns and 25% of the population are now suffering from either depression or anxiety-related issues. Put that into context as a working professional; if you see eight clients in a day, it’s likely that two of them are statistically being affected by potentially crippling and debilitating issues.

CAN BARBERS AND HAIRDRESSERS BE AFFECTED BY HEARING THEIR CLIENT’S ISSUES?

We often carry the burden of 5-10 deep conversations throughout the day, and they can weigh heavy on us as stylists and barbers. Since 2020, the lives of hairstylists and barbers have been hugely affected. This may be from numerous lockdowns causing anxiety and depression, redundancy due to business closure from Covid-19 or sadly the loss of a loved one. The past few years have been a tornado of emotions as we all grappled with and navigated a new way of living and working.

IF YOU COULD SAY ONE THING TO THE INDUSTRY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

Mental health illnesses are invisible. Do not presume or judge. Now is the time to equip yourself or your staff with the armoury to identify and communicate. Do not delay, wasting time is wasting lives. I hope that society will be inspired to talk about their mental health more openly.