It’s Pride Month which is a prompt to analyse the inclusivity of your salon. A gender-neutral price list is a positive step in the right direction towards a more progressive, open-minded industry. But more than this, we ask how inclusive is your business as a whole?
Even small steps can play a big part in reassuring and supporting others who may not identify with traditional gender labels. But ensure that you’re not just box-ticking. Everyone in your team, starting with you, must understand what taking steps to signal you’re more inclusive actually means. Don’t talk the talk if you’re not going to walk the walk. As a salon owner, you strongly influence the industry and your team. Every change you make towards a more inclusive business shows you will not tolerate bias or judgement.
Keri Blue, barber and founder of Human First, shares five practical steps you can take in the salon to ensure all clients feel welcome:
- Does your salon have gender-neutral toilets?
- Is there varied representation on your social channels? Can everyone identify with an image on your platforms, and are you inclusive of all races, colours, identities, cultures and gender?
- Are your staff trained and aware of pronouns? Do they know how to use them? If so, are they being used?
- Have you put LGBTQIA+ and Trans friendly safe spaces in your social bios, your Google listing and your website? This is the simplest way to let people know they are welcome, whoever they are, and however, they identify.
- Is your booking system gay and/or trans-friendly safe? Does it understand the use of pronouns and include them? A booking system that prompts pronoun checking is a great way to remind your team about their importance.
Keri Blue is a Friend of Respect and has previously spoken about their Hair Has No Gender Campaign at a Respect LAB event. If you want to know more about the LAB click here.
Follow @humanfirstuk to learn more ways you can be an ally.
For more of the latest industry news click here
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