Essay by Eric Worrall
First published JoNova; “… an intervention was conducted with 25 salons using eco-tips on mirrors to prompt sustainable hair care conversations (Mirror Talkers) …”
MARCH 3, 2026
Hairdressers could be a secret weapon in tackling climate change, new research findsby University of Bath
edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew ZininHairdressers across the UK are emerging as powerful, under-recognized influencers in tackling climate change, according to new research from academics at the University of Bath’s Center for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST), and the Universities of Cardiff, Oxford and Southampton.
The study, published in Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, reveals that hair salons are hubs of trust, community and conversation where climate action can take root and spread.
The research shows that hairdressers can be influential in everyday conversations with clients about climate and sustainability and are successfully prompting people to rethink their sustainability habits—ranging from their use of water and energy to their choice of bank or diet.
Dr. Sam Hampton from CAST said, “Hairdressers build trust over months and years. That kind of relationship is gold when it comes to discussing climate change. We found salons to be unique spaces where clients feel safe, relaxed, and open to new ideas.”
Read more: https://phys.org/news/2026-03-hairdressers-secret-weapon-tackling-climate.html
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The abstract of the study;
Public engagement and climate change: exploring the role of hairdressers as everyday influencers
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications , Article number: (2026) Cite this article
We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.
Abstract
Public engagement has a key role in the social transformations needed to address climate change, one form of which is climate conversations. This research focuses on a widespread and conversational space – hair salons. It engaged with sustainable salons across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland to explore these conversations in two studies. Thirty salon owners/directors were interviewed about hairdressers’ engagement with clients about climate change and sustainability (GoZero), and an intervention was conducted with 25 salons using eco-tips on mirrors to prompt sustainable hair care conversations (Mirror Talkers). The results show that hairdressers already have a strong understanding of public engagement, are able to ‘read’ clients and maintain trusting relationships. Climate and sustainability conversations are happening in sustainable salons and impacting clients’ mindset and behaviour, with the intervention viewed positively. This paper argues that hairdressers are a prime example of ‘everyday influencers’ on climate change, but their potential has not been fully realised.
Read more: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-026-06781-4
Good to see Britain’s tax money hard at work. The study notes that raw data will not be released due to privacy concerns, but they recommend followup studies to determine whether the mirror talkers and other engagement methods had a lasting impact on people’s climate views.
I don’t know about you, but someone waving a sharp piece of steel next to my face doesn’t make me feel more open to say buying an electric vehicle. My focus is more on hoping the slight hand tremor I just noticed won’t lead to me receiving a nasty cut.
