Ageism is Real in the Hair Salon: How the Hair Industry Needs to Step Up when it Comes to Age

The salon industry is constantly changing with hair trends, new products and beauty treatments- but there is one thing that remains constant and silent: Agism.

A study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) found that ageism is a real problem in the beauty industry, and the salon industry is really late to jump on and face this issue. According to the survey results, 27 percent of women aged 45 and above reported feeling discriminated against because of their age when visiting salons. This blog post is my personal journey of aging in the industry and how I hope it helps change the game.

When I first entered the salon industry, no one batted an eye at my age. In fact, they welcomed me with open arms and celebrated my fresh perspective. I guess I should first start out by saying out loud what I tip toe around in the salon and in the salon/beauty community: I am 53 years old. I rarely say how long I've been in the industry, I always say things like "over 20 years" or I am a "senior stylist". The minute stylists get older, without a doubt, ageism is present in the salon industry.  After working for 35 years in the salon industry, I have contributed to and have been on the receiving end of agism. 

THE CLIENTS

Then there is the client (typically older clients), that are often completely disregarded by young stylists who believe that only young clients are trendy, and worth showcasing on Instagram and willing to spend money on their hair. The salon should be a safe space for clients to express themselves with their hair, no matter their age. I first want to say that the 50 year olds of today are not the 50 year olds that were on The Golden Girls! We are edgy, relevant and fashionable. "Last year 55 and older spent over 4 million dollars on cosmetic and astethic procedures." (AARP) "On average, 69% of women age 45–60 reported feeling at least six years younger than age." (Ageless medical) 

THE OLDER STYLIST

Here's where I've witnessed and been a part of first hand: If you’re a salon owner, then it is OK that you are older, as it is a sign of stability and trustworthiness. But older stylists are often dismissed even when applying for a stylist position, and are often judged as soon as they walk into a salon, Often they aren't even called back for an interview. And in the age of social media, a lot of older stylists are late to the game. If you want to grow a business (personal or not), it's even harder without social media marketing skills. If you’re a stylist who is over 45 and considered an “older” stylist, it can be very difficult to find work in the salon world. It seems like when clients see that we are “older”, they assume that we are not up to date on the latest trends. Salon Front Desk teams often align themselves with the younger stylists, and in return the stylists get the high end tickets fed to them, and the older stylists tend to be fed the client or services no one wants. It’s a competitive game in the salon (I get it), but even so it’s still wrong and not fair to those experienced stylists. It's just as hard for them to stay current with trends and techniques as younger stylists, and they often have more experience. Addressing ageism starts with recognition of the problem that exists, and developing methods to address it.

THE YOUNGER STYLIST

But there's another side to ageism in the salon industry: Being a young stylist starting out. The struggle is equally real, but on a different front. Younger stylists are often not given the credit they deserve, dismissed as inexperienced, and are frequently overlooked by clients in favor of their older, more experienced counterparts. Experienced stylists often get the better hours, don't have to work weekends and pass down menial salon tasks because they feel they've already "done their time". 95% of the time, a new stylist has to prove their talent and expertise and can be nothing more than an apprentice. Again, social media comes into play as the stylists coming out of school are much more advanced with the current trends as they have a library on social media at their disposal, yet we still have an old school mindset that they need to "pay their dues" and are often treated sub parly. 

The salon industry, much like society, seems to be trapped in a paradox where women in salons are either perceived as "too old" or "too young." This ageism results in a lose-lose situation for both clients and stylists alike. On one side, older stylists are unfairly judged by fellow stylists and clients as being out of touch , their experience and knowledge often dismissed. On the other, younger stylists face the uphill battle of proving their ability and being able to be more then an assistant or the shampoo person. We really should be pairing these two as a mentor and mentee partnership. Ageism still exists in the beauty industry, and it's time to change the game. We need to be open-minded when hiring new stylists, and also when clientele come into our salon doors. Everyone deserves to feel beautiful, regardless of age!