The Beauty of Support
Talking hair, culture and cancer in Black women's hairdressers
We want to encourage our community to talk about cancer and ask for the free resources available from Macmillan.
Research indicates that Black women are less like to go for breast cancer screening and more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage than many other women.
Let’s change that by talking about cancer.
The Beauty of Support project: an initiative in South East London which aims to start conversations about cancer between Black women and their hairdressers to break down taboos and help people access support.
The project was developed by Macmillan using insights from focus groups with women from African and Caribbean backgrounds and Black hairdressers.
Although Beauty of Support was originally developed with hairdressers and barbers, the toolkit and training resources can be used more widely. They can be adapted for community organisations, workplaces, local services and other trusted, people-facing settings.
Watch the video to hear how Beauty of Support is helping Black women, hairdressers and communities have open conversations about cancer, challenge taboos and connect people with support.
About the Beauty of Support project
From our focus groups we found cancer can be a taboo topic in some Black communities. Whether that is talking about a cancer diagnosis with family or sharing advice about where to get help.
The good news is that cancers that are diagnosed at an earlier stage have better survival rates due to different treatment options being available. By raising awareness and learning from each other we can make a difference through the power of sharing.
We decided to launch the Beauty of Support project in hairdressers as we know they can be a comfortable space at the heart of the community for a lot of Black women.
It is a place where people can talk about family, relationships and sex - so why not cancer?
"Sometimes when I go to my hairdressers it's very social and it's very relaxed and I'm going there like a lot of women to make myself look good and feel good when I come out." Janet
How can talking and sharing experiences make a difference?
Talking about cancer and having relatable information in familiar, trusted settings can help to break down taboos and misinformation. This could be in salons, community organisations, workplaces or local services.
Sharing experiences can help reduce anxiety around things like attending screening appointments. This can help people get diagnosed earlier.
We have created resources to help people have conversations about breast cancer awareness and where to get support if they are affected by cancer. The resources can be used by hairdressers and barbers, as well as people working in other trusted community and people-facing settings.
Resources for Black women about cancer
Training packs, posters and invitations
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Guides and training packs
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Invitations
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Posters and sticker
Information about the impacts of cancer
Other organisations who can help
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Black Women RisingBlack Women Rising is a UK charity which was set up by community champion Leanne Pero. It offers vital help, information and practical advice for people of colour who have been diagnosed with cancer. Projects include coffee mornings and peer support groups, a weekly podcast, blog and pamper events.
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Cancer Hair Care
The Cancer Hair Care website has videos and guidance about afro hair including hair loss during treatment, wigs and talking to children about hair loss.
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DChanger community meet-upsDChanger is a small organisation in London that is committed to supporting people who are battling cancer, especially BAME, through the provision of befriending, advice, signposting and counselling service. They run workshops on various types of cancer, delivered by professionals such as Oncologists, Cancer nurses, dietician etc. They also run a monthly meetup session, providing a safe environment where members can share their experience, forge friendships and build support networks. DChanger also organise outings and get-togethers (including a Christmas outing) for members.
As a Christian organisation, they organise monthly prayer meetings where members are encouraged through collective prayers. -
Look Better, Feel GoodLook Better, Feel Good offer online and in-person wellbeing workshops and classes about skin care, hair care, wigs and headwear, and make-up for people living with cancer.
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Wigs for Heroes
Wigs for Heroes is a London based charity with a mission to support people undergoing cancer treatment in the local communities in the UK. This could be in the form of a wig grant, pamper bags, cancer support workshops, events/meet ups, online support groups, coffee club socials or via helpful online resources and video tutorials.
Want to use Beauty of Support in your community?
If you're a hairdresser, barber or work in another community or people-facing setting and would like to use Beauty of Support, or you have questions about the project, please get in touch with Janet Clarke, Communities Manager for London, and the Southeast.