Hair salon launches silent appointments to boost mental wellbeing

'These days, in our overstimulated world, alone time is scarce and I believe that is the key to better mental health'

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A hair salon in London has started offering “silent” haircuts to help promote good mental health.

The treatment, offered at Not Another Salon on Brick Lane, is just like any other haircut, aside from the fact that the stylist won’t say a word to you for the duration of your appointment, once you've discussed the style you want.

There is no extra cost and all you have to do in order to request it is say the word “silent” when booking your treatment.

Owner Sophie Hilton explains she decided to launch the service to help promote mental wellbeing.

“Honestly I think we are too British in this country,” Hilton tells The Independent. “In order to not hit burn out, we all need to be clearer on our needs.

“These days, in our overstimulated world, alone time is scarce and I believe that is the key to better mental health.”

Not Another Salon is famed for its “no judgement policy”, insisting on its website that its clients are from “every walk of life”.

“I knew that to truly be inclusive we needed to stop clients feeling embarrassed about their individual needs,” says Hilton, explaining that an aversion to small talk is just as valid a need as any.

“Because of our no judgment policy we also get a lot of people with mental health issues who might not feel that they want to talk about themselves,” Hilton continues. “The silent haircut allows then to know it's ok to be them.”

“I knew that to truly be inclusive we needed to stop clients feeling embarrassed about their individual needs,” says Hilton, explaining that an aversion to small talk is just as valid a need as any.

As for how Not Another Salon’s staff feel about the service, Hilton explains they’re “over the moon”.

“They all love a chat, but remember they also love calm time too,” she says. “They are just super happy they get a balance now.”

The concept might sound revolutionary, but Not Another Salon’s treatment is similar to one launched in a Cardiff-based salon in 2015.

Bauhaus, which has two salons in the Welsh capital, offers clients the option of having their treatment in a “quiet chair” where they can enjoy their cut, colour or blow dry free from chatter.

At the time, Bauhaus owner Scott Miller told Wales Online explained the service was launched to help people looking to come into the salon and switch off from the hectic nature of their daily lives.

“Our team is full of brilliant conversationalists, it’s an important part of being a hair stylist, and most of our customers love coming in to have a chat,” he said. “But at the same time, we understand people lead busy lives where they may have been communicating with people all day and want some relief.”