Hair therapy in the barbershop: transition between trend and professional responsibility

Abstract

The integration of scalp therapy into barbershop services has moved beyond aesthetic differentiation and now demands technical accountability, scope clarity, and service governance. In men’s grooming markets shaped by high demand, information asymmetry, and loosely verifiable commercial claims, barbers and scalp therapists often become the first point of contact for complaints such as scaling, oiliness, itching, and early hair thinning. This article examines the shift from scalp therapy as a “trend” to scalp therapy as a “responsible practice,” proposing an evidence-informed framework centered on client safety and referral pathways to dermatology. The discussion draws on international literature in trichology, scalp microbiome, common scalp dermatoses, and men’s health, as well as research on barbershop-based interventions as non-traditional settings for health promotion. The paper argues that the sector’s credibility will rely less on spectacular techniques and more on low-complexity clinical consistency: screening, documentation, honest counseling, safe cosmetic management, and timely referral.