Talked to a nurse about scalp health and it flipped a switch for me

I was cleaning for a regular client who's a nurse, and she mentioned how many of her patients with thinning hair have underlying skin issues like seborrheic dermatitis that get missed. She said, 'You guys touch more scalps in a week than most doctors see in a month, you're on the front line.' It made me realize I should be doing a more thorough scalp check during every consultation. How do you guys work a quick scalp health screen into your initial client chats?

3 comments

3 Comments

murray.pat1d ago

Honestly, I just started doing it, but my opening line is so awkward lol. I'll be like, "Cool, so before we pick a color, mind if I just take a quick look at your scalp with my little flashlight? Gotta make sure my canvas is good to go." It feels a bit like playing doctor, which is funny because I barely passed high school bio. I just look for obvious redness, flaking, or any super tender spots while I'm sectioning. If I see something, I just note it and suggest they maybe check with their doctor, because I am absolutely not qualified for that.

patel.eric1d ago

My cousin Vinny is a barber and he found a weird mole on a guy's head last year. The guy went to a skin doctor and it was fine, but he still sends Vinny a Christmas card now. It's wild what you can notice when you're just doing your job.

the_ray1d ago

Ngl, that nurse is totally right about us being on the front line. My question is, when did we all become unofficial scalp detectives? I started doing a quick check during the shampoo, just feeling for any weird bumps or super dry patches while the conditioner sits. It's way less awkward than making a whole show of it. If I find something, I just say it looks a bit irritated and they might want to ask their doctor next time. Honestly, it's a bit scary how often people have no idea there's even a problem up there.