Hairstylists Kicking Ass

Discussing everything from which wig to wear to new cosmetics, a symposium today at the University of Illinois at Chicago is educating hairstylists about how to deal with the new challenges clients with breast cancer face when it comes to hair. Aside from that, though, it is educating us on how many people hairstylists affect each day, and, incidentally, how much they rule.

With more than 200,000 cases of breast cancer each year in America and more than 40,000 of those fatal, patients' hair isn't necessarily top on the list of concerns. But hair can actually be a big part of the therapy and recovery processes, from new hair to shaved heads to the plethora of available wigs. And while her mane might not be the most important thing in a patient's life, hairstylists across the nation are making it theirs.

That's not the only issue hairstylists have stepped up for, either. The first annual training conference for hair care professionals to help deal with domestic violence among their clients was held in Chicago at the end of February. Cut It Out, as the initiative is called, emphasizes that hairstylists are in a unique position to recognize signs of abuse as the confidants and regulars in the lives of their regulars. Chicago was the first major city to implement the project, which relies on resources like instructional videos and hands-on training and is backed by the Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund.

Aside from that, though, it proves there's a lot more going on in salons than just snipping and cutting, and raising awareness about their raising awareness is one more way to help these superhero stylists along.