Shear Haven launches anti-domestic violence training for nail & beauty salons

New training is launching in the UK and Ireland to help beauty professionals and hairdressers identify the signs of domestic violence with their clients and how to respond appropriately.

The training, which has been created by Shear Haven, comes after it was revealed that police in the UK recorded 259,324 domestic abuse offences between March and June 2020, a 7% increase on the same period in 2019, according to the Office of National Statistics.

Hair and beauty professionals have a unique relationship with their clients and are in an ideal position to recognise the signs of domestic violence and are perhaps a safer way to help the client.

Salon business expert, Liz McKeon has been announced as the ambassador for the anti-domestic violence training in the UK and Ireland.

The education consists of a 20 minute online session, followed by a short quiz, covering everything from how to recognise the signs of domestic violence to successfully navigating conversations with clients who may be in danger and how to provide resources which helps the client get to safety. To date, more than 25,000 beauty professionals from around the world have taken the training.

“This time last year when we were in our first coronavirus lockdown,I saw so many salon owners posting about domestic violence on social media, so for the first time ever I was noticing people putting up posts advising their customers – ‘if you need to talk, just call me’, or ‘if you need me to call the authorities ask for eyeshadow such and such’,” revealed Liz McKeon.

“This peaked my attention – that we in the salon industry have a responsibility to our clients. If they are in danger then we provide a safe haven for them really. Then one night I was going through LinkedIn and I found the Shear Haven link and did the training. The training is invaluable.”

Click here to take Shear Haven’s Domestic Violence Training course