The Indian beauty industry has evolved and is growing in leaps and bounds. Held annually, the StyleSpeak Beauty Conference 2024 discusses new developments and trends in the Indian beauty industry, attracting beauty professionals seeking valuable technical knowledge.
One very popular session entitled ‘Causes of Hair Fall and Solutions You Can Offer’ at the 2024 Conference addressed the issue of hair fall. Hair Loss has been a common problem since ages but people are seldom willing to speak to their stylists about it. Chaired by Jigar Patel, Founder & CEO, Brillare Science Pvt. Ltd. the session featured panellists Asha Hariharan, Director, Enrich and Aha Academy, Swati Gupta, Founder and Creative Director, Bodycraft Spa and Salon, Manjul Gupta, Founder, Bodycraft Salon and Spa, Deepak Jalhan, Creative Director and Educator, Looks Salons and Audrey D’Souza, National Creative Head, Lakme Salons.
Jigar Patel: How can we make clients talk about hair loss and scalp issues when they are in a salon?
Swati Gupta: Problems like hair loss are periodic but if the scalp is ignored and its issues are left unattended, we will keep struggling with hair fall issues like patchy growth, receding hairline etc. That’s my take on it.
Jigar: How can stylists speak to their client about the scalp without making it preachy?
Asha Hariharan: The whole landscape of hair health and skin health has changed. From someone in their 40s facing hair loss, to someone experiencing receding hairline issues in 20s today, client with these issues come to the salon first. This means that Hair professionals need to upgrade themselves and come out of the realm of ‘care’ and understand ‘what ‘cure’ can do for it.
This is the first time I see the salons and great products coming together for a solution. But the major problem is when hairstylists want to push the product and without understanding the chemistry, or the trichology, of hair and don’t know where to stop. Hair care includes the scalp, the hair itself, and the client – each of which can be in a different state of condition. So how do we merge the three, find the right path ….and when do we say – No, I can’t help you.
Jigar: Can we create exclusive scalp experts in our salons?
Deepak: If a stylist works on hair or does any treatment on healthy hair and scalp, the outcome will be brilliant.. So, you know if you are going to give solutions for scalp concerns and help them achieve better results, there is nothing like it. And do this for 1 or 2 people every day, scalp conditions are going to decrease in the industry. That’s what I believe in.
Asha: For 5 salons or more, we have a Lead. The Lead does not have to be a senior hairdresser – can even be a Geek. But if a client comes with problems like hair fall etc. I say – speak to her. The gap between great products and a happy client is a very well trained and informed salon owner, hairdresser and perhaps a Lead. That can only happen when companies like you, who invest in growing that breed of specialists.
Jigar: What do you feel is the importance of machines or tools like a scalp analyser?
Audrey: A scalp analyser is a very important tool in hairdressing. When we started using it for our client they understood how important it is as a part of consultation. I would like to highlight that when we started working on the care portfolio we didn’t have hair and scalp as a different topic. We only had hair treatments. Today most of the salons have hair and scalp as different topics which helps the business to grow.
Jigar: There is no magic pill for hair loss treatments. It needs commitment and treatment. How do we communicate this to clients?
Manjul Gupta: A detailed consultation about the care of the scalp is very important. It depends on our consultant on how they explain that if the scalp is clean your hair will grow healthy. If your scalp is getting some nourishment through some products or serums or ceramides it will definitely work for you and give better growth. It is important to feed your scalp well.
Jigar: What do you think about scalp supplements? How can salons communicate the benefits to their clients?
Swati: Like all of us have voiced, that the wave of education must start and it can start only through us. Oral supplements can be a very big challenge because a lot of people look at a capsule with a lot of suspicion. There will always be a set of believers and some people who are cynical or cautious towards some of this. But, as a brand you should be able to resolve all doubts.
There is no magic bullet for hair loss. Salon stylists resolve it by educating clients at the consulting stage, finding solutions for scalp and hair issues, and take several initiatives to make clients understand that hair loss cannot be treated completely and its treatment needs discipline and commitment.
