A New Illinois Hairdresser Law Will Help Them Recognize Signs of Domestic Violence

Illinois is pretty much on top of the world right now. In addition to a historic Chicago Cubs World Series win last night (108 years in the making, people!), the state just made serious history by becoming the first to pass a totally unique and awesome piece of legislation. Starting January 1, hairdressers in the Midwestern state will receive mandatory training to recognize signs of abuse and domestic violence in their clientele. How badass is that? The law, which was recently signed by Governor Bruce Rauner, will require all hairdressers to take a one-hour course on domestic violence as part of their regular license renewal process, which takes place every two years, according to a report by local news station WQAD.

A law like this is totally unprecedented in the salon industry—and we have to say, it’s pretty great. Of the 10 million men and women who are victims of domestic violence each year, a lot of the warning signs go unnoticed. Your hairdresser, in case you haven’t noticed, gets pretty up close and personal with your head—during the shampoo and styling, she’s in prime position to notice any tender spots on the scalp or bruises along the hairline. There’s also a deeper-level psychology to the law. No matter how often you’re in it, the beauty chair has a way of being your own mini stress-free bubble. And if you’ve been loyal to the same stylist forever, trips to the salon can sometimes double as a therapy session. Combine the pervasive power of that safe salon environment with the practical ability your hairdresser has to notice warning signs and training stylists to help fight domestic violence seems like a no-brainer.

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Celebrity hairstylist Christophe Robin lists the most common mistakes women are making with their hair color:

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But while formal legislation might be slow to rollout, the beauty industry has been all about using this unique position for good since 2003 when the Professional Beauty Association launched the Cut It Out campaign, which is based on this idea of arming beauty professionals with the tools they need to help stop domestic violence. If you ask us, that might just be the most important beauty tool in the bag.

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