NEW SURVEY FINDS 50 PER CENT OF BEAUTY PROFESSIONALS IDENTIFY AS NEURODIVERGENT – BUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE INDUSTRY?

May 3, 2024 | INDUSTRY NEWS

CATEGORIES > INFORM

NEW SURVEY FINDS 50 PER CENT OF BEAUTY PROFESSIONALS IDENTIFY AS NEURODIVERGENT – BUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE INDUSTRY?

A recent survey conducted by Vagaro highlights the significant presence of neurodivergent professionals in the beauty industry.

It’s common knowledge in the industry that many hair professionals are neurodivergent, but a recent survey from salon software brand Vagaro revealed that half of the beauty industry identifies as such.

The research also explored how salon salons and spas cater to neurodivergent clients, highlighting the role of technology and software in creating inclusive spaces and the human aspect of nurturing relationships, empathy, and understanding.

27 per cent of survey participants said they work on a team with a neurodivergent peer and 43 per cent of participants said they offer services specifically tailored to meet the needs of clients who are neurodivergent or on the autism spectrum.

Findings suggest that these salon and spa professionals proactively ask about accommodation requests beforehand, as well as offering quieter or noise-reduced options such as quiet hair clippers, providing an array of lighting options, and more.

27 per cent of survey participants said they work on a team with a neurodivergent peer.

Technology is also crucial to creating a welcoming space for neurodivergent clients, with 56 per cent of those asked agreeing that technology helps make accommodations for neurodivergent clients, pointing out that scheduling software plays a crucial role in reducing sensory overload.

They said capabilities such as online booking systems, digital check-ins, forms, and automated appointment reminders help reduce factors that can contribute to overstimulation and streamline the overall experience. “Our survey showcases the growing dedication of salon and spa professionals to inclusivity and innovation,” says Charity Hudnall, Vagaro chief marketing officer. “By encouraging acceptance, celebrating diversity, and leveraging technology, we can create more accessible
spaces for both neurodivergent clients and industry professionals.”

See the full findings of Vagaro’s survey of neurodivergence among salon and spa professionals on the Vagaro blog, highlighted amid National Autism Acceptance Month.

CATEGORIES > INFORM

WELLA PROFESSIONALS AND PANTONE JOIN FORCES IN “BIGGEST COLLABORATION EVER”

Inspiration found in key Pantone shades of the season.

The full Colour Crush collection

Wella Professionals is collaborating with global colour expert Pantone on its summer collection, Colour Crush – dubbed on Instagram as its “biggest collaboration ever”.

Revealed on the cover of Creative HEAD’s March issue, Colour Crush sees Wella Professionals ambassadors Jordanna Cobella and James Earnshaw working together on the season’s take on the new era of colour blocking.

James Earnshaw developed seven looks that incorporate the key Pantone shades of the season for inspiration.

Lilac Spirit – a fresh floral hue combined with a luminous peach

Rose Dusk – a velvety pink which comes alive when paired with a deep, alluring burgundy

Vivid Amber – glows with an intense, golden warmth and teamed with a richly pigmented red-hued brown

Pink Pearl – a delicate, natural creamy hue teamed with a rich deep brown

Dulce de Leche – a smooth and creamy caramel shade, set against a complex midnight black

Barley Gold – a delicate sun-baked golden blonde fused with a nutty and rich brown

Sunset Blaze – autumnal fiery oranges, set against a tranquil tinted blonde

“At a time when authentic self-expression has become so paramount, this collection enables individual style and personality, to create edgy and fun combinations,” said Laurie Pressman, vice-president at Pantone Color Institute.

The looks were created using Koleston Perfect, Color Touch, Shinefinity and Illumina Color from the Wella Professionals’ colour portfolio. Inspired by shades from nature, interior design, and make-up, Colour Crush signals a shift from cool ash tones, with warmer hues prevalent, as seen in the two key trends Peach Blush and Strawberry Glaze.

The collection showcases salon and stylist friendly techniques to help colourists get creative and grow their business, with face framing concepts and colour blocking panels.

CATEGORIES > INFORM

THE TOP TWO CULTURAL DRIVERS EVERY SALON OWNER SHOULD KNOW

Promotion – Fresha

Take a closer look at the hair and beauty landscape for the months and years ahead.

The ever-evolving beauty and wellness industry is being propelled daily by cultural drivers and technological change. Clients and consumers respond to trends, and this determines the direction of the future of the industry, meaning that staying ahead of the curve is a key way to capitalise on these trends for your business.

Fresha, one of the world’s biggest salon software providers, published its first trend report crafted from more than 1,000 consumer surveys across three continents, as well the data from 600 million bookings on its platform, to nail exactly what is trending and what the future has in store. The good news? It features a whole lot of fun!

Dopamine beauty and cultural intellect are set to dominate the landscape as consumers place higher value on diversity, expression, and emotional wellbeing. This is triggering a rise in beauty services that are inclusive, meaningful, and playful, with consumers prioritising their self-expression and focussing on finding services that are right for them.

Shag! salons is incorporating these trends into its businesses across London, ensuring clients can embrace colourful, inclusive services.

Client at Shag! London

So, what’s dopamine beauty?

Wellness that prioritises playfulness.

Dopamine beauty is centred around exploring self-expression through colours, textures, and scents for the ultimate feel-good factor. The trend focusses on joy and mental wellbeing and is an extension of the ‘clean girl aesthetic’ or ‘no make-up make-up’ trends that social media platforms such as TikTok have seen skyrocket in popularity. A surprising 58.5 per cent of consumers think wellness is about how they feel mentally, rather than physically, so dopamine ditches the beige and brings back youthful wonder, presenting opportunities for your beauty and wellness treatments and services to be playful.

“Dopamine beauty is a trend we were inadvertently using as soon as we opened. Both of our salons are filled with colour,” says the team behind Shag!, who use colours such as bright pink and ocean blue in its salon interiors. “We’ve noticed a surge in people going more extreme with hair colour. It started last year when all the blonde and brunette clients tried the copper trend. It then became the norm instead of a bold move, and now they’re looking for the next big thrill with their own hair. We’re ready to see a lot of pink tones coming back over the next year.”

At its core, Dopamine Beauty encourages consumers to feel that extra bit happier and fulfilled after a self-care service. It is also becoming more important for a younger demographic to resonate with as they place more importance on their mental health. Shag! stylists are noticing an increase in clients discovering that they can have fun and use their hair colour to feel happier.

What is cultural intellect?

Representing a greater diversity of needs.

While dopamine beauty creates a space to encourage clients to be themselves, that space also needs to be able to accept a diverse range of people. The industry is calling for safer community spaces, better education around textured hair, and a wider representation and understanding of hair types.

Shag! salons aims to provide clients the most luxurious service possible and offer a space they can come to which feels more exclusive, safe, and private, as well as being able to provide disabled access and a private room for clients who require those elements. Services like this are integral for businesses to strive in the industry and Fresha’s data reflects significant contrast between customer satisfaction rates, with Black consumers three–times more likely to be dissatisfied with their options for haircare, skincare, and make–up.

Shag! London stylists

“Inclusivity has been a huge problem in the hairdressing industry for a long time,” says the Shag! Team. “Textured hair was only recently added to hairdressing training and even that required a 100,000-signature petition to City & Guilds to get it added in.”

Shag! Salons prides itself on having built a business around inclusivity. It covers everything from the basics such as gender-neutral pricing and training in all hair types, through to more in-depth practices. “We offer a private room for any clients that may need to cover their hair for health or religious reasons. We have tried to build a space where literally anyone can come in and ask for anything they could imagine. We have also made sure all our staff are well trained in cutting textured hair and brought in experts for several styles and hair types for courses to make sure the whole team is confident.”

Investment in education is vital for the success of every business. Being up-to-date with cultural needs globally and locally allows you to provide the best client care possible and future-proof your services.

Want to discover more about trends in the beauty and wellness industry?
Check out The Future of Beauty and Wellness Report 2024 by Fresha and WGSN here.

CATEGORIES > EXPLORE > PORTFOLIOS

"URBANE" BY SACO

Inspired by ‘90s minimalism and the rule breakers who created the blueprint for today’s diversity and individuality, Urbane by Saco showcases pared down silhouettes and muted tones in celebration of craftsmanship, precision and creativity.

Hair: Saco Creative Team led by Richard Ashforth, featuring Color A.K.A. from Saco.

Photography by Jack Eames.

Make-up: Megumi Matsuno.
Styling: Michelle Kelly.
Wardrobe: Tania Zekkout.
Creative direction: Richard Ashforth

CATEGORIES > EXPLORE > TECHNIQUES

THE 3 BIGGEST BLONDE MISTAKES THAT COLOURISTS MAKE

Tia Lambourn – founder of Bay Studios in Derby and both Tia Lambourn Education and The Blonding Bible online platform AND a Redken Advocate – knows what NOT to do when blonding a client! These are the mistakes to avoid

Tia Lambourn

MISTAKE 1 – Rinsing too early

The bleach is on and you’re panicking: ‘I’m using a blue bleach, and it looks like it’s ready to come off’. What ends up happening is that the hair’s quite yellow underneath. What I usually recommend in my education and Blonding Bible classes is to take out a tiny strand of hair from the foil and do an elasticity test, instead of just judging it visually. You can then feel if it’s ready to come off. If it has started to feel a bit stringy, then that can also save you from breakage. That has saved me in the past, when I’ve thought: ‘this needs another 20 minutes’.

I’ve been in the middle of a colour correction where the hair looks orange, and I’ve pulled on it, I’ve felt that it’s got a little bit of give, and I know I need to take it off now.

MISTAKE 2 – Ignoring the clear

When it comes to glossing, not everyone utilises the clear. The most used ‘colour’ in my salon is the clear! Sometimes the hair lifts so perfectly that what you’re going to end up doing is almost making it look slightly muddy, or a bit heavy, or when there’s a lot of pigment in the hair, it makes it appear darker. So, if you do have a client who wants to be mega blonde, and you’ve managed to lift them to a really nice level 11, you want to gloss with your chosen shade and the same amount of clear – go half and half. In some scenarios, I’ll even do three-quarters clear, one-quarter of the chosen shade.

MISTAKE 3 – Using ash toners for a bright finish

Ash was a big trend, everyone wanted to be an icy blonde or platinum, but for really bright blondes, I’m always reaching for the warmer shades. A lot of the time you have a client who wants to be mega blonde, but they want to be ashy, so colourists will mix up an ash toner. But if you think of a white cloud compared to a grey cloud, the grey cloud has more ash in it… and it looks darker. With a blonde tone that’s more ashy, it’s going to appear slightly more dull. It’s not actually dull, it’s just got a heavy amount of pigment in there, so it’s going to appear that way because it’s not going to reflect the light so much. You can do a mix of warm and ash so that it is not golden, but it’s not super ashy. It’s more of a creamy milky blonde, then you get the best of both worlds.