“They say that the hairdresser gets all the secrets”
USA - In the two decades that Angela Smith has been a hairstylist in Chicago, she has heard countless intimate stories from the women who have sat in her chair. Most times the banter is carefree. But sometimes, there are whispers of mistreatment by spouses or partners, of being choked, chased or emotionally abused. “They say that the hairdresser gets all the secrets,” Ms. Brown said. “They let go here. Everybody doesn’t talk, but once you build a relationship with someone, that’s when it happens. It’s just like when you have a best girlfriend.” A new state rule taking effect on Jan. 1 recognizes that the unique relationship between hairdressers and their customers may help curb domestic abuse and sexual assault. The amendment to a law that governs the cosmetology industry will require salon workers to take one hour of training every two years to recognize the signs of abuse and assault and will provide them with a list of resources to which they can refer clients for help. Without the training, cosmetologists in Illinois will not be able to renew their licenses. The professionals covered by the law — believed to be the first in the nation — include hairstylists, nail technicians and aestheticians. The rule was inspired by the spirit of camaraderie in hair salons, said State Senator Bill Cunningham, one of the chief sponsors of the amendment. For some women, those salons are a safe space, where they can sit among other women, drop their guard and confide about life as their hair is braided or colored, or their nails trimmed and painted. The relationships there are akin to bartenders’ ties with their patrons, Mr. Cunningham said in a telephone interview. “A similar thing occurs with women when they go to see the neighborhood beautician,” he said. “Women find that an opportune time to unburden themselves.” Chicago Says No More, an organization that raises awareness about domestic abuse, approached Mr. Cunningham and another legislator, Representative Fran Hurley, last year with the idea of training salon workers. Senator Cunningham said the concept sounded familiar because of his wife’s experience working as a hairdresser to put herself through college.
Initially, there was resistance over whether the amendment would be overreaching by the government, he said, and cosmetologists were concerned about liability. Cosmetologists Chicago, the industry’s professional association, helped with the language of the bill and the proposed training. Vi Nelson, a spokeswoman for the group, said the association had worried about the impact on salons – whether clients who were experiencing problems might stop patronizing them and whether an abuser could show up.
The final version of the law, which was signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner in August, does not require salon workers to act on their suspicions, but helps them to recognize warning signs and provides them with resources to pass on to victims so they can get help.
(nytimes)