Representing our sector

In representing the sector, we meet regularly with the civil servants at the Department for Business and Trade, as hairdressing sits under ‘Personal Care’ and also take part in a range of other committees and forums to further the needs of the industry.

We also meet with senior Treasury ministers and civil servants to push for financial support and contiue to lobby for change at Budgets or other fiscal events.

Again and again at these meetings we’re faced with questions around the scale of the issues we face and even how many people work in hairdressing. It is for this reason, alongside consumer protection, that we believe mandatory regulation is the answer as amongst many other things this will provide solid data to enhance our calls for support.

The Public Perception 

There is a widespread assumption by all sectors of the general public that their hairdresser or barber is mandatorily regulated and a lack of understanding as to why a sector which deals with sharps, dangerous chemicals and processes doesn’t have a central register.

With no mandatory register consumer safety is at greater risk as, using the example of colour allergy testing, little is protecting consumers from practitioners not following best practice (or carrying out any test) and the catastrophic allergic reaction that could follow. 

To be a safe, successful, professional, competent and inspiring hairdresser, and/or barber, takes time, commitment, focus and passion to achieve. Training, continual professional development and experience all play a part in creating true professionals that the general public should be able to have complete confidence in.

Current legislation and the lack of mandatory registration allows anyone to practice without any form of training or qualification, putting the public at risk of harm and devaluing the profession. Sadly, many practicing hairdressers and/or barbers in the UK have had no form of training and are not qualified to practice hairdressing and/or barbering.

However, regulation or red tape is seen by many as a barrier to growth and can be seen as a barrier to entry. Therefore, we advocate a License to Practice or Register rather than regulation, something that is light touch, low cost and easy to access whilst providing consumers with confidence and a united voice for the industry.