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L'Oréal's Hairdressers Against AIDS Programme
Posted by
Kate
Dated: May 23, 2008 12:05 PM
Changing lives in a small way is part of what makes up everyday life in the salon. In fact, most hairdressers agree that making the client look and feel better about themselves and leave the salon with a smile on their face is one of their favourite aspects of the job.
Now the industry is striving to take that one-to-one change to a larger scale and really make a difference to the world.
As part of their commitment to making a difference, L'Oreal have signed an agreement with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to create the international campaign Hairdressers Against AIDS.
The project began as an internal campaign, but has grown into a prevention education programme for the international hair community, as Naomi Scroggins, communications director for L'Oreal Professionnel, explains
"Hairdressers Against AIDS started as an employee programme for L'Oréal 's brand Soft Sheen Carson in South Africa," she says.
"Staff suggested that the programme should be rolled out to the hairdressing community. So we prepared information on HIV and AIDS, including Health & Safety leaflets and posters for the salons.
"In 2005 an agreement between L'Oréal and UNESCO was signed and Hairdressers Against AIDS began. The programme was launched in the UK in 2006 with Founding Ambassadors Trevor Sorbie MBE and Errol Doulgas MBE." 
Hairdressers against AIDS is not a charity, but an element of the L'Oréal Corporate Foundation. As such, its primary aim is not about raising money, but raising awareness about the virus. The belief is that if hairdressers are aware of HIV and AIDS they can protect themselves and understand the issues surrounding it.
"The campaign takes the form of a short questionnaire and film called Vertigo which outlines what HIV and AIDS is and isn't," adds Naomi. "There is also a UK film that highlights the issues in the UK and why we still need to be vocal about it 25 years after it was first discovered.
"The alarming fact is that the numbers of infections are on the increase and 73,000 people in the UK are living with HIV and AIDS - but only one in three of these people actually knows they have it."
Since its UK launch in 2006, Hairdressers Against AIDS has raised over £50,000 for HIV and AIDS charities and has exposed nearly 24,000 people to the initiative through the Prevention Education programme.
But they are always keen for hairdressers to take their education about the subject to another level and give their support to the cause: "We are always delighted when hairdressers want to support Hairdressers Against AIDS. There are quite a number of ways they can do this.
"The first is by raising awareness of HIV and AIDS by wearing a Red Ribbon to show solidarity. The second is by supporting the Crusaid Walk for Life in June each year and thirdly by recognising World AIDS Day on the 1st December each year."
Find Out More About Hairdressers Against AIDS
Recent Charity Work Within the Hair Industry
Tags: Hairdressers Against AIDs , L'Oreal Professionnel
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