Hair and Beauty: Hair & Beauty Blog

The Other Side of the Salon: Emotional Labour and Mental Health

New Research Tackles the Emotional Labour of Beauty

Hairstylists Australia Article

Social and emotional work is a side of the Hair and Beauty industry that is greatly under-researched, and
given the current circumstances the world finds itself in, more important than ever.
Dr Hannah McCann, of the University of Melbourne, is currently undertaking a study called Beyond Skin Deep, and is hoping to use her research to answer three questions:

1. What role do salon workers play in the emotional lives of their clients?
2. How can salon workers best be trained and supported in the social and emotional work of their profession?
3. What best practice solutions can be implemented to connect community services with salon professionals

By looking at the role that hairdressers and beauty therapists undertake in the lives of their clients,
it is hoped that there will be strong academic data to take to lawmakers, educational providers and employment groups so that workers can receive greater support and training in the industry

There is a survey that is open to all hair and beauty workers, including barbers, apprentices, and sole traders that will help Dr McCann in her research

Building Resilience and Supporting Mental Health

Emotional labour can take it's toll on workers and, with the industry under more pressure than ever due to the COVID 19 crisis, it's more important than ever that mental health is supported and workers are helped to build resilience. 

Below are some resources to assit workers, teachers and students with mental health issues and resilence building.

Webpages

Managing Mental Health in Your Salon: Steps for salon owners to take to ensure that they manage their staff through depression and anxiety appropriately

How Much Have You Thought About Mental Health & Wellbeing in Your Salon: Promoting mental health and wellbeing in your salon

Videos

Developing Resilient Apprentices: Jane Barrett, General Manager of Pivot Point Australia, discusses discusses the subject of RESILIENCE, specifically for apprentices

Library Resources

Mindful Listening by Harvard Business Review Staff; Peter Bregman; Jacqueline Carter; Rasmus Hougaard; Jack Zenger

Call Number: 153.68 MIN

ISBN: 9781633696679

Publication Date: 2019-03-26

Become a mindful listener at work. Listening is a critical skill that leaders and managers often take for granted. By learning to listen mindfully, you can keep your employees more engaged, foster the discovery of new ideas, and hear what you need to hear in a discussion rather than what you expect to hear. The book will teach you what great listeners do, how to stay fully present in challenging conversations, and how empathic listening can help others learn and grow. 

 

Resilience (HBR Emotional Intelligence Series) by Harvard Business Review Staff; Daniel GOleman; Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld; Shawn Achor

Call Number: 658.409 BUS

ISBN: 9781633693234

Publication Date: 2017-05-09

How do some people bounce back with vigor from daily setbacks, professional crises, or even intense personal trauma? This book reveals the key traits of those who emerge stronger from challenges, helps you train your brain to withstand the stresses of daily life, and presents an approach to an effective career reboot.

Mental Health First Aid by Betty Kitchener, Anthony Jorm and Claire Kelly

Call Number: 616.89 KIT

ISBN: 9780987181930

Publication Date: 2016

The course in designed for members of the public to learn how to assist someone who is developing a mental health problem or mental health crisis. The giving of mental health first aid is most relevant in situations when it is first becoming apparent to others that a person in their family or social or professional network in developing a mental health problem.