Hairdressers for Health
After relocating, a friend of mine once related that finding a good hair stylist is tougher than finding a new doctor. Many women (and men) are unusually loyal to their barbers and hair stylists - which may explain this news item in The News-Sentinel about salon visits that have lead to an earlier diagnosis of diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Changes in the hair and skin and head and neck lesions are two of the most common health changes that hair stylists notice and bring to their client's attention. The University of Alabama in Birmingham’s School of Medicine has decided to capitalize on the stylist-client relationship with a new early intervention program entitled Shop Talk, that uses hair salons to disseminate health information by educating beauticians about health issues and arming them with informational pamphlets.
Also in on the trend is the Association of Black Cardiologists (AABC) and their REACH for Wellness initiative. The program trains barbers to take blood pressures outside of the doctor's office setting.