Hair & Care Presents: Beyond Vision – Championing Inclusion In Fashion And Beauty

The fashion and beauty industries celebrate innovation, but one vital element is still too often ignored: accessibility. Beauty is meant to be a language of self-expression, a way to show the world who you are. But what happens when spaces designed for visibility leave millions unable to participate?

by ZURI | INFORM

Hair & Care, the Hackney-based non-profit founded by award-winning hairstylist Anna Cofone, has been asking this question from the very beginning. Through monthly workshops for blind and low-vision women and girls, the organisation reimagines beauty as an experience beyond the surface, something to be felt, heard and a place for community. For Anna, the work is deeply personal. Her father, who lived with retinitis pigmentosa, viewed self-care as an act of dignity and visibility. That devotion lives on in Hair & Care’s mission: to make beauty a space of belonging for everyone. 

Last week, the project took centre stage with the premiere of “Beyond Vision” at Sea Containers London, a short film and panel discussion that invited audiences to see beauty through a new perspective. 

Film by: Hector Hilleary

A Sensory Approach To Beauty 

Directed by Hector Hilleary, “Beyond Vision” invites us to see beauty through an unconventional lens, one shaped not by appearances, but by sensation. In Anna’s workshops, self-care unfolds as a fully sensory experience: the glide of a brush, the mist of a spray, the warm caress of water on the scalp. These rituals affirm identity as much as they nurture confidence and personal expression. For the women featured, the workshops offered a rare space of mutual understanding, where they could be their authentic selves and feel seen. 

The film’s gentle power lies in showing how confidence and community emerge side by side. As participants laughed, experimented, and encouraged one another, it became clear that beauty is not a privilege of sight but a practice of care, connection, and recognition. 

Image by: Hector Hilleary

Breaking Misconceptions 

That spirit flowed into the evening’s panel discussion, where the conversation turned toward dismantling stereotypes. Too often, blind and low-vision people are assumed not to care about their appearance, simply because their experience of beauty is different. Yet, as one attendee shared, “Looking in the mirror and not seeing what’s looking back makes you hyper-conscious.” It was profoundly moving, a reminder to consider: what would self-care mean if we couldn’t see ourselves? The comment reframed the issue entirely: it isn’t disinterest but rather a heightened awareness shaped by exclusion. 

Moderated by Vogue Business journalist Maliha Shoaib, the panel gathered blind broadcaster and activist Lucy Edwards, fashion designer Chet Lo, Dazed beauty director Alex Peters, deafblind social media analyst Jane Manley, and founder Anna. Together they pressed the industry to view accessibility not as an afterthought but as an essential design principle. As Jane Manley urged, “Do things from the front, not from the back.” From packaging to websites to in-store experiences, accessibility is most impactful when it is built in from the beginning. 

Image by: John Armour

A Call To Lead With Change 

The conversation carried weight beyond the event. More than 2 million people in the UK live with sight loss today, a number expected to double by 2050. This is not a niche audience, but a growing community too often underserved and underfunded. While many brands cite cost as a barrier, the reality is clear: accessibility is not charity, it is both a moral and commercial imperative. 

Hair & Care is already showing what’s possible. Through its Making Fashion Accessible programme, recognised by British Vogue and the BBC, the non-profit has brought inclusivity to London and Copenhagen Fashion Weeks, collaborating with leading designers to ensure accessibility is built into every aspect of fashion. Their workshops continue to provide blind and low-vision women with safe, sensory-led spaces to experiment with beauty on their own terms. 

The premiere of “Beyond Vision” was a reminder that change begins in moments like these: a film that sparks empathy, a panel that challenges assumptions, and a project that insists on visibility. 

The question now for the wider industry is this: the next time you launch a product, design packaging, or plan a campaign, will accessibility be an afterthought, or will you choose to lead from the front? 

Image by: Madoka Take

What’s The ‘Come Back Cut’?

From ill-judged bangs to poorly-thought through perms – big hair decisions often follow a moment of upheaval. This Isle of Man salon is putting a positive spin on the transformational haircut.

by HAYDN | INFORM

Magnificence Hair and Beauty, the Douglas salon led by Maggie Thompson, has unveiled an inspiring new service concept: The Come Back Cut. She created The Come Back Cut because she’s always believed hairdressing should support people through life’s toughest moments. As a mum of four neurodiverse children and someone who’s faced her own health challenges, she knows how powerful a fresh start can feel.

The service was inspired by that desire to help clients step into a new identity, whether after illness, motherhood, divorce, or simply a big life change. For her, a haircut isn’t just a trim, it’s a line in the sand; a way of saying goodbye to the past and embracing the new you.

For Maggie, the idea was born from wanting to go deeper than the aesthetics of a cut. The Come Back Cut is more than just a haircut; it’s a celebration of your journey and a reminder of your strength,” she explains. “My mission is to create a space where women feel empowered to embrace change and walk out with a renewed sense of self.”

Each service begins with a tailored consultation, digging into face shape, lifestyle, personality and aspirations. Maggie then works her magic, combining technical expertise with a naturally empathetic approach to create a look that’s not just flattering, but perfectly aligned with who the client is right now.

For the hairdressing community, it’s a bold reminder of the unique role stylists play in their clients’ lives: not just delivering sharp cuts and fresh colour, but offering a safe, supportive space for confidence and identity to flourish. The launch taps into a wider industry shift where purpose-driven services go beyond the technical to spotlight wellbeing, empowerment and connection.

And as for feedback, Maggie says, “The demand has been amazing, it has been busier than Christmas! When we launched, we had 9 bookings in the very first week, most of them brand-new clients!”