Jamie stevens salon introduces sign language stylist service

Jamie Stevens has always offered inclusive hair services, and was one of the first salons to pledge support to Stylist mag's Hair Equality Initiative in 2016. Now the salon is pleased to be able to offer a signing service to Deaf and hard of hearing clients. Senior Stylist Jo Haywood is Vidal Sassoon trained, specialising in cutting for men and women and all aspects of colour, from balayage to highlights - and is qualified to British Sign Language Level 2. it is because of Jo's personal efforts that the salon is now able to offer this service. She says, "Although I don’t know anyone who's Deaf, my Dad and I decided to learn together so signed up to a sign language course at an adult college for two years. The last year was during Covid so was online and doing it by zoom was so frustrating because of the screen freezing, or unmuted people suddenly appearing on speaker view -  it's very hard to do a visual language online. We did things like going to an art exhibition with a British Sign Language  guide in a group of Deaf people which helped us learn. "At Jamie Stevens, we know that the consultation stage of a haircut is a huge part of the overall service, and it must be so hard to have a consultation and feel at ease if you can't communicate with your stylist. I want Deaf clients to know that they can come to our salon and feel at ease, and also be able to take out any hearing aids and be comfortable at the basin as well. Plus, bookings can be made online or via instagram DM." Speaking of inclusivity, have you heard that Blue Tit London has launched new Afro and textured hair services in all of its salons? You can find out more here.