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Aimed at salons and stylists, the training explains how to reduce their environmental impact while inspiring clients to save energy, water and use fewer chemicals at home.

Bringing sustainability into practice

More than 50 salons and 1,000 stylists have gained this certificate which is backed by industry bodies including:

• the Hairdressing Council
• the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority
• the Vocational Training Charitable Trust

Denise’s team has run over 60 sustainability workshops and training events. They’ve educated over 2,000 trainers, colleges and industry professionals about greener products and practises, including:

• new water-saving technologies such as low-flow showerheads
• leave-in conditioner
• dry shampoo

Her research has also shaped the sustainability component of the training programme for the UK’s 14,000 hairdressing apprentices.

Adopting these kind of eco-friendly practices can make annual savings for the average four-seat salon of:

• 286,000 litres of water
• 24,150 kWh of energy
• £5,300

Professor Baden and colleagues worked with 20 salon owners to find out how hairdressing salons could save energy. They found that heating water is the most energy-intensive activity in a hair salon, even more than hair drying.

Hairdressers are in a unique position to combat climate change. As they chat to their clients while styling their hair, they have an ideal opportunity to highlight practical ways that individuals could adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.

Award-winning impact

The project won the £10,000 Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Celebrating Impact Prize 2018 for Outstanding Impact in Business and Enterprise.

The research is also having an international impact. Salon owners are completing the virtual training from countries including India, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand and South Africa.

Denise says backing from the sector is important: