While being a hairstylist can be immensely rewarding, it often comes with demanding schedules, high levels of stress, and even physical or emotional burnout. In a profession centered around creativity and personal connection, hairdressers often find themselves serving as confidants, problem solvers, and de facto therapists, frequently putting their own needs on the back burner in service to their clients. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that mental health is the number one challenge for stylists across six countries, with 65% experiencing burnout, anxiety, or depression at some point throughout their careers.
Ahead, learn about L’Oréal Professionnel's mental health awareness initiative Head Up and join #ItTakesAPro Team Artist Daniel Mason-Jones and stylist Hayley Jepson for Head Up Keys—four virtual sessions that will help you recognize mental health challenges and empower you to put your mental well-being first.
Image: Courtesy of L’Oréal Professionnel
What Is Head Up?
Head Up is a global mental health training program created by L’Oréal Professionnel in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and renowned hairstylists Daniel Mason-Jones and Hayley Jepson. Designed by hair pros for hair pros, the expert-backed program raises awareness about the mental health challenges facing hairstylists and provides them with free resources to proactively manage their own mental well-being and tools to build resilience.
“Hairstylists offer a service that goes beyond a physical transformation as they care, listen, and are here for us,” says Anne Machet, L’Oréal Professionnel International General Manager. But while stylists are often there for others, Head Up is here for hairdressers.
What Are Head Up Keys?
The Head Up program is composed of four virtual eight-minute training modules, known as Head Up Keys. Featured are Daniel Mason-Jones and Hayley Jepson, who guide stylists through various mental health topics, offering actionable advice and real-world tools that hairdressers can use to improve their mental well-being and better manage the emotional and physical demands of the salon industry. Each episode discusses different aspects of mental health, from recognizing early signs of burnout to building strategies for long-term self-care.
Head Up Partners With Calm
This year, L’Oréal Professionnel has partnered up with Calm—the number one mental health and wellness app—to offer hair pros even more tools to support their mental well-being. When stylists complete the Head Up training program, they’ll receive three months of complimentary premium access to the Calm app, which includes guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing exercises, and more.
Discover Head Up Keys
L’Oréal Professionnel’s goal is to elevate 200,000 hairstylists by the end of 2025 with Head Up Keys. Whether you’re a seasoned stylist or just starting out, Head Up Keys can serve as a valuable resource for anyone in the beauty industry.
How To Access Head Up Keys
With Head Up, stylists don't need to carry the weight of mental health challenges alone. Join the 47,000+ stylists getting involved in this mental health campaign by downloading the Head Up notebook and logging into your SalonCentric account for full access to all of the Head Up Keys training modules. For your discount code to try the Calm app for free, watch each episode through the L’Oréal Professionnel website.
You can also support L’Oréal Professionnel's mental health awareness movement on your social channels by posting a picture of you doing the campaign symbol and using the hashtags #HeadUp, #HeadUpKeys, and #LorealPro.
Next Up: Introducing AirLight Pro: L’Oréal Professionnel’s Next-Gen Hair Dryer
Header image credit: Courtesy of L’Oréal Professionnel
