A recent petition reported on the ITV news website is calling for better education and greater understanding of Afro Caribbean hair amongst hairdressers in the UK.
Afro hair differs widely in both texture and treatment from Caucasian hair. According to the petition, more extensive, hands-on training in how to undertake the full range of hairdressing treatments on Afro hair should form part of the qualification process at NVQ level for hairdressers. Doing so will not only allow hairdressers to cater adequately for black and Asian clients, it will also improve inclusivity in the industry.
In response to the newly launched petition, City and Guilds published a statement to the effect of: “Students of the NVQ Level 2 Hairdressing are taught the theory of cutting, colouring and styling Afro Caribbean hair. However, because of the demographics of the UK, we cannot enforce that people must have cut and styled extremely curly type hair as part of their course.”
It remains to be seen, then, whether the petition will change the future of hair training.
At Hairdressing Claims, we regularly encounter individuals who’ve been hurt by incorrect and careless use of chemicals by hairdressers on their hair. One example is chemical relaxing on Afro hair. If these chemicals are left on for too long, the hair being ‘relaxed’ as well as the scalp can be seriously damaged. This damage could be hair breakage, scalp burns and scalp blisters.
Read our earlier blog titled ‘Everything you did (and didn’t) want to know about keratin treatments’ to learn more on the potential dangers of straightening treatments which are increasingly popular among women with curly hair.
While injuries by hairdressers are relatively rare, they can and do happen. Should you find yourself in this upsetting and painful situation, it’s reassuring to know that expert legal teams such as ours can help you progress a compensation claim against your hairdresser.
To contact us in confidence, please email enquiries@hairdressingclaims.co.uk, call 0800 141 3682 from a landline for free, phone 0333 202 6560 from a mobile or complete our online enquiry form.
Tweet us: https://twitter.com/HairClaims
Follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/HairClaims
Like us: https://www.facebook.com/HairClaims