Symposium 26: Cuts, Curls, and Community: Health Promotion in Barbershops and Hair Salons

Cuts, Curls, and Community: Health Promotion in Barbershops and Hair Salons

Kelly Palmer1, Guillermo Wippold2, Monica Baskin3, Tava Suero4, and Terry Woods5

1University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
2University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
3University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
4Deep Rooted Salon, Tucson, AZ
5Main Attraction Barbershop, Sumter, SC

For generations, beauty salons and barbershops have served as defacto community hubs for many Black women and men. They are often seen as safe places for sensitive conversations, such as conversations about health and health promotion. There has been a growing recognition among academic health promotion specialists of the importance of these community hubs in improving reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of health promotion efforts among Black individuals and communities; although it should be noted that these places have been centers of health promotion long before they were recognized by academic health promotion specialists. Health promotion programs implemented at these sites have been found to be successful in recruiting, retaining, and producing meaningful health-related changes among participants (Palmer et al., 2021; Wippold et al., 2023).

Despite the importance of beauty salons and barbershops among Black women and men, and their potential to produce meaningful health-related changes among participants, too few health promotion efforts in them exist. One scoping review found 4 health promotion programs implemented in beauty salons (Palmer et al., 2021) and another found 13 health promotion programs implemented in barbershops (Wippold et al., 2023). These numbers are worrisome given that: (1) health disparities persist, as evidenced by the rates of premature mortality among Black women and men; (2) health equity is a primary focus of Healthy People 2030; yet (3) a report recently released by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (2022) concluded that Black adults continue to be underrepresented in health promotion efforts.

Although the aforementioned findings are alarming, there is hope - recent research has found that stylists and barbers are prepared and ready to engage in conversations about health with their clients (Palmer et al., 2022; Wippold et al., 2024a) and implement health promotion programs in their shops (Wippold et al., 2024b).

The main objective of this symposium is to detail evidence-based and community-informed strategies to promote the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of health promotion efforts in beauty salons and barbershops. Real-world examples of such efforts will be presented. The long-term objective is that a greater number of health promotion programs in beauty salons and barbershops are implemented in, and in partnership with, these culturally unique spaces.

The objectives will be addressed by three presentations:

1. "Hair Salons as Heath Promoting Settings: Bridging Beauty and Health " by Kelly Palmer, PhD
2. "Barbershops as Health Hubs: Strategies for Success" by Guillermo Wippold, PhD
3. "Building Trust: How Researchers Can Effectively Collaborate with Barbers and Stylists" by Terry Woods and Tava Suero

The symposium will begin with a presentation that describes the importance of stylist/barbers and how researchers can make connections necessary with these individuals. It will then be followed by a presentation highlighting strategies to develop and implement health promotion programming in barbershops/salons. Finally, there will be a presentation led by a stylist and barber describing their insights on implementing health initiatives in these spaces. A discussion led by Monica Baskin, PhD will follow.

Presentation #1. "Hair Salons as Heath Promoting Settings: Bridging Beauty and Health".

Introduction: This presentation will highlight contextual considerations of salon-based health promotion. Hair salons are culturally significant settings in Black communities much like barbershops and churches. However, there are contextual and cultural nuances that are different from barbershops and churches that must be considered when planning and implementing health promotion efforts. This presentation will also explore the critical roles that stylists play in their communities, particularly in relation to health promotion. Hair stylists are not just service providers; they are trusted community figures who often serve as confidants and informal counselors to their clients. Understanding who they are and the influence they wield is essential for researchers aiming to collaborate with them on health promotion initiatives.

Methods: Results from a recent scoping review, in addition to qualitative research conducted by Dr. Palmer will be presented.

Results: The findings presented from Dr. Palmer’s research will focus on community-informed strategies to develop and implement health promotion initiatives and to build trust and maintain trust between stylists and academic partners. Additionally, the results will outline community-informed strategies for researchers to connect with stylists, including:

1. Building relationships: Approaching stylists with respect and understanding of their influence within the community.
2. Engagement tactics: Involving stylists in the research process from the outset to ensure their buy-in and to tailor interventions to fit the context of their salons and the needs of their clients.
3. Sustaining connections: Maintaining ongoing communication and partnerships with stylists to support long-term health promotion efforts.

Summary of Presentation: Best practices for researchers to connect with stylists will be discussed. It will explore how to align research goals with the values and routines of these community figures and settings, ensuring that health promotion efforts are both culturally and contextually relevant and impactful. The importance of recognizing the dual role of stylists as both service providers and community leaders will be emphasized. The presentation will conclude with actionable recommendations for researchers looking to engage stylists in health promotion initiatives. These recommendations will focus on building strong, respectful relationships, co-designing interventions that resonate with both the professionals and their clients, and ensuring that these partnerships are sustained over time to maximize the impact of health promotion efforts in these community settings.

Presentation #2. "Barbershops as Health Hubs: Strategies for Success".

Introduction: Black men are underrepresented in health promotion programs. Additionally, when Black men do enroll in health promotion programs, they are less likely to report meaningful health-related changes. Community-informed strategies are crucial for the successful development and implementation of health promotion programs for Black men because they ensure that programs are culturally relevant and resonate with the unique needs of the community. Barbershops serve as ideal venues for engaging Black men in health promotion efforts but the effectiveness of these efforts hinges on the active involvement of barbers and their clients in the planning and execution of the programs. By incorporating the insights and experiences of those who are deeply embedded in the community, health promotion initiatives in barbershops can be tailored to address specific health disparities, foster trust, and encourage sustained participation. Such strategies not only enhance the reach and impact of the programs but also contribute to the long-term sustainability and success of health interventions in these culturally significant settings.

Methods: Results from a recent scoping review, in addition to qualitative and quantitative research conducted by Dr. Wippold will be presented. Preliminary insights from The Fade to Fitness Program (a barbershop-based health promotion program for Black men) and the Clean Cuts and Sharp Minds Collective (a network of barbers interested in promoting men’s health) will also be presented.

Results: The scoping review identified key factors that contribute to the success of barbershop-based health promotion programs, including the importance of community involvement, culturally relevant messaging, and the role of barbers as trusted influencers. Insights from The Fade to Fitness Program found that health promotion programming in barbershops must be flexible and accommodate the shifting schedules of participants. Finally, preliminary results among barbers of the Clean Cuts and Sharp Minds Collective finds that barbers are ready to implement health promotion programs in their shops.

Summary of Presentation: The implications of these findings for future health promotion programs in barbershops will be discussed. The presentation will emphasize the need for culturally tailored interventions that resonate with the target population, the importance of involving barbers in the design and implementation of these programs, and the potential for scaling such initiatives across different regions. The role of barbers as community leaders and influencers will be highlighted as a critical element in the success of these programs. The presentation will conclude with recommendations for enhancing the sustainability and impact of barbershop-based health promotion programs. Strategies will include the development of barber networks like Clean Cuts and Sharp Minds Collective and ensuring that interventions are culturally relevant and community-informed. These approaches have the potential to transform barbershops into effective health hubs, significantly contributing to the reduction of health disparities among Black men.

Presentation #3. "Building Trust: How Researchers Can Effectively Collaborate with Barbers and Stylists".

Summary of Presentation: Mr. Terry Woods (a Master Barber and barbershop owner), and Ms. Tava Suero (an experienced stylist and salon owner) will share their perspectives on collaborating with researchers in health promotion efforts within barbershops and beauty salons. Drawing from their hands-on experience, they will provide insights into the realities of implementing health initiatives in these unique community spaces. Mr. Woods and Ms. Suero will discuss the importance of building genuine relationships with shop owners and stylists, emphasizing trust and respect as foundational elements for successful collaborations. They will offer practical advice for researchers on how to approach shops, including the need for clear communication, understanding the shop's culture, and ensuring that any proposed interventions align with the values and daily operations of the shop. Mr. Woods and Ms. Suero will also highlight the importance of flexibility and co-creation in program design, ensuring that interventions are not only culturally relevant but also feasible within the context of a busy shop environment. Their presentation will serve as a guide for researchers looking to engage effectively with barbers and stylists, fostering partnerships that can lead to meaningful and sustainable health promotion outcomes.

Discussant-led Portion

Dr. Baskin will focus on synthesizing the insights from the presentations and highlighting key takeaways for advancing health promotion efforts in barbershops and beauty salons, with an emphasis on the theme that context matters. She will explore the broader implications of integrating community-informed strategies into health interventions, stressing how the unique cultural and social contexts of these spaces are pivotal to their success. Dr. Baskin will emphasize the potential for these context-driven approaches to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes among Black communities. Additionally, she will facilitate a conversation on next steps for researchers, barbers, and stylists to collaborate effectively, ensuring that interventions are not only sustainable but also adaptable to the specific contexts of different barbershops and salons, thereby maximizing their impact.

Chair - Kelly Palmer PhD, MHS  Student
The University of Arizona

Chair - Guillermo Wippold PhD  Student
University of South Carolina

Discussant - Monica Baskin PhD  Student
University of Pittsburgh

Co-Presenter - Tava Suero   Student
Deep Rooted Salon

Co-Presenter - Terry Woods   Student
Main Attraction Barbershop

Cuts, Curls, and Community: Health Promotion in Barbershops and Hair Salons

Kelly Palmer1, Guillermo Wippold2, Monica Baskin3, Tava Suero4, and Terry Woods5

1University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
2University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
3University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
4Deep Rooted Salon, Tucson, AZ
5Main Attraction Barbershop, Sumter, SC

For generations, beauty salons and barbershops have served as defacto community hubs for many Black women and men. They are often seen as safe places for sensitive conversations, such as conversations about health and health promotion. There has been a growing recognition among academic health promotion specialists of the importance of these community hubs in improving reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of health promotion efforts among Black individuals and communities; although it should be noted that these places have been centers of health promotion long before they were recognized by academic health promotion specialists. Health promotion programs implemented at these sites have been found to be successful in recruiting, retaining, and producing meaningful health-related changes among participants (Palmer et al., 2021; Wippold et al., 2023).

Despite the importance of beauty salons and barbershops among Black women and men, and their potential to produce meaningful health-related changes among participants, too few health promotion efforts in them exist. One scoping review found 4 health promotion programs implemented in beauty salons (Palmer et al., 2021) and another found 13 health promotion programs implemented in barbershops (Wippold et al., 2023). These numbers are worrisome given that: (1) health disparities persist, as evidenced by the rates of premature mortality among Black women and men; (2) health equity is a primary focus of Healthy People 2030; yet (3) a report recently released by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (2022) concluded that Black adults continue to be underrepresented in health promotion efforts.

Although the aforementioned findings are alarming, there is hope - recent research has found that stylists and barbers are prepared and ready to engage in conversations about health with their clients (Palmer et al., 2022; Wippold et al., 2024a) and implement health promotion programs in their shops (Wippold et al., 2024b).

The main objective of this symposium is to detail evidence-based and community-informed strategies to promote the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of health promotion efforts in beauty salons and barbershops. Real-world examples of such efforts will be presented. The long-term objective is that a greater number of health promotion programs in beauty salons and barbershops are implemented in, and in partnership with, these culturally unique spaces.

The objectives will be addressed by three presentations:

1. "Hair Salons as Heath Promoting Settings: Bridging Beauty and Health " by Kelly Palmer, PhD
2. "Barbershops as Health Hubs: Strategies for Success" by Guillermo Wippold, PhD
3. "Building Trust: How Researchers Can Effectively Collaborate with Barbers and Stylists" by Terry Woods and Tava Suero

The symposium will begin with a presentation that describes the importance of stylist/barbers and how researchers can make connections necessary with these individuals. It will then be followed by a presentation highlighting strategies to develop and implement health promotion programming in barbershops/salons. Finally, there will be a presentation led by a stylist and barber describing their insights on implementing health initiatives in these spaces. A discussion led by Monica Baskin, PhD will follow.

Presentation #1. "Hair Salons as Heath Promoting Settings: Bridging Beauty and Health".

Introduction: This presentation will highlight contextual considerations of salon-based health promotion. Hair salons are culturally significant settings in Black communities much like barbershops and churches. However, there are contextual and cultural nuances that are different from barbershops and churches that must be considered when planning and implementing health promotion efforts. This presentation will also explore the critical roles that stylists play in their communities, particularly in relation to health promotion. Hair stylists are not just service providers; they are trusted community figures who often serve as confidants and informal counselors to their clients. Understanding who they are and the influence they wield is essential for researchers aiming to collaborate with them on health promotion initiatives.

Methods: Results from a recent scoping review, in addition to qualitative research conducted by Dr. Palmer will be presented.

Results: The findings presented from Dr. Palmer’s research will focus on community-informed strategies to develop and implement health promotion initiatives and to build trust and maintain trust between stylists and academic partners. Additionally, the results will outline community-informed strategies for researchers to connect with stylists, including:

1. Building relationships: Approaching stylists with respect and understanding of their influence within the community.
2. Engagement tactics: Involving stylists in the research process from the outset to ensure their buy-in and to tailor interventions to fit the context of their salons and the needs of their clients.
3. Sustaining connections: Maintaining ongoing communication and partnerships with stylists to support long-term health promotion efforts.

Summary of Presentation: Best practices for researchers to connect with stylists will be discussed. It will explore how to align research goals with the values and routines of these community figures and settings, ensuring that health promotion efforts are both culturally and contextually relevant and impactful. The importance of recognizing the dual role of stylists as both service providers and community leaders will be emphasized. The presentation will conclude with actionable recommendations for researchers looking to engage stylists in health promotion initiatives. These recommendations will focus on building strong, respectful relationships, co-designing interventions that resonate with both the professionals and their clients, and ensuring that these partnerships are sustained over time to maximize the impact of health promotion efforts in these community settings.

Presentation #2. "Barbershops as Health Hubs: Strategies for Success".

Introduction: Black men are underrepresented in health promotion programs. Additionally, when Black men do enroll in health promotion programs, they are less likely to report meaningful health-related changes. Community-informed strategies are crucial for the successful development and implementation of health promotion programs for Black men because they ensure that programs are culturally relevant and resonate with the unique needs of the community. Barbershops serve as ideal venues for engaging Black men in health promotion efforts but the effectiveness of these efforts hinges on the active involvement of barbers and their clients in the planning and execution of the programs. By incorporating the insights and experiences of those who are deeply embedded in the community, health promotion initiatives in barbershops can be tailored to address specific health disparities, foster trust, and encourage sustained participation. Such strategies not only enhance the reach and impact of the programs but also contribute to the long-term sustainability and success of health interventions in these culturally significant settings.

Methods: Results from a recent scoping review, in addition to qualitative and quantitative research conducted by Dr. Wippold will be presented. Preliminary insights from The Fade to Fitness Program (a barbershop-based health promotion program for Black men) and the Clean Cuts and Sharp Minds Collective (a network of barbers interested in promoting men’s health) will also be presented.

Results: The scoping review identified key factors that contribute to the success of barbershop-based health promotion programs, including the importance of community involvement, culturally relevant messaging, and the role of barbers as trusted influencers. Insights from The Fade to Fitness Program found that health promotion programming in barbershops must be flexible and accommodate the shifting schedules of participants. Finally, preliminary results among barbers of the Clean Cuts and Sharp Minds Collective finds that barbers are ready to implement health promotion programs in their shops.

Summary of Presentation: The implications of these findings for future health promotion programs in barbershops will be discussed. The presentation will emphasize the need for culturally tailored interventions that resonate with the target population, the importance of involving barbers in the design and implementation of these programs, and the potential for scaling such initiatives across different regions. The role of barbers as community leaders and influencers will be highlighted as a critical element in the success of these programs. The presentation will conclude with recommendations for enhancing the sustainability and impact of barbershop-based health promotion programs. Strategies will include the development of barber networks like Clean Cuts and Sharp Minds Collective and ensuring that interventions are culturally relevant and community-informed. These approaches have the potential to transform barbershops into effective health hubs, significantly contributing to the reduction of health disparities among Black men.

Presentation #3. "Building Trust: How Researchers Can Effectively Collaborate with Barbers and Stylists".

Summary of Presentation: Mr. Terry Woods (a Master Barber and barbershop owner), and Ms. Tava Suero (an experienced stylist and salon owner) will share their perspectives on collaborating with researchers in health promotion efforts within barbershops and beauty salons. Drawing from their hands-on experience, they will provide insights into the realities of implementing health initiatives in these unique community spaces. Mr. Woods and Ms. Suero will discuss the importance of building genuine relationships with shop owners and stylists, emphasizing trust and respect as foundational elements for successful collaborations. They will offer practical advice for researchers on how to approach shops, including the need for clear communication, understanding the shop's culture, and ensuring that any proposed interventions align with the values and daily operations of the shop. Mr. Woods and Ms. Suero will also highlight the importance of flexibility and co-creation in program design, ensuring that interventions are not only culturally relevant but also feasible within the context of a busy shop environment. Their presentation will serve as a guide for researchers looking to engage effectively with barbers and stylists, fostering partnerships that can lead to meaningful and sustainable health promotion outcomes.

Discussant-led Portion

Dr. Baskin will focus on synthesizing the insights from the presentations and highlighting key takeaways for advancing health promotion efforts in barbershops and beauty salons, with an emphasis on the theme that context matters. She will explore the broader implications of integrating community-informed strategies into health interventions, stressing how the unique cultural and social contexts of these spaces are pivotal to their success. Dr. Baskin will emphasize the potential for these context-driven approaches to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes among Black communities. Additionally, she will facilitate a conversation on next steps for researchers, barbers, and stylists to collaborate effectively, ensuring that interventions are not only sustainable but also adaptable to the specific contexts of different barbershops and salons, thereby maximizing their impact.

Chair - Kelly Palmer, PhD, MHS,
The University of Arizona

Chair - Guillermo M. Wippold, PhD, PhD,
University of South Carolina

Discussant - Monica Baskin, PhD,
University of Pittsburgh

Co-Presenter - Tava Suero,
Deep Rooted Salon

Co-Presenter - Terry Woods,
Main Attraction Barbershop