Bluemind Foundation launch Heal by Hair 2022, a training program for hairdressing professions that integrates economic, social and health aspects. Cross interview Marie-Alix de Putter Founder & President, Bluemind Foundation & Victore Biegny, Heal by Hair selected hairdresser & President CONAPAPECI…
The Bluemind Foundation is launching a training program for professionals in the hairdressing industry. Why?
Marie-Alix de Putter: To answer that, let start with three data published by the World Health Organisation (WHO): 110 million people are affected by mental health issues in Africa, and 60% of those are women. That is 12 million more suffering women than the French population, for example. One mental health professional is available for approximately five hundred thousand people (1/500.000) while WHO recommends 1/5000. The average budget allocated to mental health in Africa is 0.1 USD per individual, 27 times less than the world’s standards.
» Innovation in mental health is not an option but an absolute necessity »
Those numbers can be read in various ways. For us, they pointed out that innovation in mental health is not an option but an absolute necessity.
Last November, Bluemind Foundation published a study conducted in six countries among 714 women and 148 hairdressers. The Cross Study Report shows that 67% of young women are more inclined to confide in hairdressers and that 61% would confide even more easily if the said professionals were trained in mental health first aid. 91% of hairdressers are ready to be trained, and we now have a pipeline of more than 250 hairdressers in Côte d’Ivoire (Abidjan) ready to participate in the Heal by Hair program and already a cohort of 30 selected professionals.
Heal by Hair is the first movement of hairdresser ambassadors in mental health in Africa.
A program built on women’s daily life experience and supported by accurate field data.
So hairdressing in Africa has a social and economic aspect, but also a health aspect. And to integrate these aspects, it is required to adapt the training cycles?
Victoire Biegny: The aspects of hairdressing are the same around the world. For example, I recently read an article saying that hairdressers in America will receive anti-domestic violence training. Moreover, I am glad that initiatives like these are putting our daily work in broad light.
The most important part is to help trainees and professionals realize the importance of that particular aspect of the job. The job and the practices are not changing. Women have always considered hairdressers’ salons safe and will continue. The only change is, with the Heal by Hair program, the hairdresser will be more engaging and equipped with better tools to help.
Are there training cycles for hairdressing in Côte d’Ivoire? What are the lacks in this type of training?
« Heal By Hair program will motivate more hairdressers to engage in psychological first aid »
Victoire Biegny: Today in Ivory Coast, everyone is interested in hairdressing, especially students. Furthermore, there are more and more training centers and schools of hairdressing in partnership with European organizations and the Ivorian Chamber of Trades. The essential mental health component provided by The Bluemind Foundation with its Heal by Hair program will be a definite plus in the context of these training sessions.
We do believe that the results gained through the Heal By Hair program will motivate more hairdressers to engage in psychological first aid. I have said it before: women come to hairdressing, not only for fashion but also for the conversation, the stress relief, and emotional support. Heal by Hair will help hairdressers get better at those aspects.
How will this training program be carried out in concrete terms ?
« To create a community of women hairdressers, improve their social and environmental impact, support the economic development of these micro-entrepreneurs »
Marie-Alix de Putter: The inaugural session will be hosted at the Azalaï Hotel in Abidjan, from 4 to 6th April 2022.
It consists of a three-day curriculum in which the hairdressers learn under the guidance of psychiatrists, trained mental health professionals, and experts how to recognize growing mental health symptoms or the worsening of preexisting ones. They will also be able to refer them to a professional.
They will also learn about active listening, confidentiality, and how to counsel their clients (ndlr: women) in need.
As you know, women are a pillar of the African economy. With a rate of 25.9%, the African Continent has the highest percentage of women entrepreneurs in the world (source: GEM). The Heal by Hair program, by building on a community of women hairdressers who run very small businesses, also aims to create practical solutions to create a community of women hairdressers, improve their social and environmental impact, support the economic development of these micro-entrepreneurs.
As part of their participation in the Heal by Hair program, the social incentives provided to the hairdressers will enable them to expand their businesses. With women reinvesting up to 90% of their income back into their families and communities (source: AfDB), the result is a win-win for the hairdressers, their clients, and their communities.
Will the program be extended to other cities on the Continent?
Marie-Alix de Putter: Yes, definitely! With the help of our trusted partners, we intend to extend the training in the future. We aim first to cover French-speaking African countries such as Togo or Cameroon.
Our goal is to form a thousand hairdressers by 2035, contribute to improving the mental health and well-being of 5 million women in Africa and be present in 20 cities on the Continent.
