e beauty industry has
always been about making
people feel good about
themselves. As our clients
age, that mission doesn't
become less important. A
familiar hair professional
can provide comfort when
so much else has changed,
and a team that understands
dementia can turn what
might have been an
intimidating appointment
into an experience
where a client feels safe,
respected, and seen.
Notes
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
"Caregivers of a Person with Alzheimer's Disease or
a Related Dementia," September 3, 2024, cdc.gov/
caregiving/about/index.html; Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, "Signs and Symptoms of
Dementia," August 14, 2024, cdc.gov/alzheimers-
dementia/signs-symptoms/index.html.
2. NIH: National Institute on Aging, "Alzheimer's
Caregiving: Bathing, Dressing, and Grooming,"
last modified July 18, 2024, nia.nih.gov/health/
alzheimers-caregiving/alzheimers-caregiving-
bathing-dressing-and-grooming.
3. Richard Ward, Sarah Campbell, and John Keady,
"'Once I Had Money in My Pocket, I Was Every
Colour Under the Sun': Using 'Appearance
Biographies' to Explore the Meanings of Appearance
for People with Dementia," Journal of Aging Studies
30 (August 2014): 64–72, doi.org/10.1016/
j.jaging.2014.03.006.
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DON'T UNDERESTIMATE YOUR
EMOTIONAL IMPACT
Research into dementia and salon care has found
that hair professionals can become important
keepers of clients' stories and identities.
3
Repeated
salon visits can create a familiar social space where
conversation, storytelling, and personal connection
continue even as cognitive abilities change. When
memory becomes unreliable, a familiar stylist can
sometimes provide continuity—not by correcting
the client or testing them, but by gently helping
them reconnect with pieces of their story.
Explore your benefits at ahphair.com 69
