Hair Care Share is a new hair salon that has recently opened on Magdalen Road in Norwich. This is the first Community Interest Company salon for Norwich, which means the profits are invested in the community.
People who are homeless or struggling on a low income can get their hair done free of charge, thanks to the way the cost of haircuts and treatments of paying clients is reinvested into the business.
The ethos behind the salon, which is run by experienced hairdresser Shelley Line, is ‘Treat yourself, treat someone else, together we all feel better.’
When a client pays for a hairdressing service they will pay the ‘cost’ price of the service. The costs include; rent, bills, stock and the basic salary of the hairdresser. The client will then be given the option to meet the market value of that service, (a sum of money that is the difference between cost and profit.)
The difference of this sum will be put towards a hairdressing service for someone that is struggling to reach their potential. This could include the users of foodbanks, job centres, homeless services, those recently hospitalised, claiming PIP, full time/youth carers, a community pillar that deserves a pampering session. Shelley said, “It is all the people that simply don’t have the budget for a decent hair service, feeling your best is a basic human right.”
With 30 years’ experience, Shelley is a sessional lecturer in hairdressing at City College Norwich and a fully qualified Consultant Trichologist. She is also planning on using the upstairs rooms to train people in hairdressing qualifications, so there will be the opportunity for people to undertake work experience.
Staff at St Martins are able to refer the people they support to Hair Care Share. Members of the public who would like to have a fantastic haircut whilst supporting those less fortunate are invited to go along and give the new salon a try.
98 Magdalen Street, Norwich NR3 1EB