Why a haircut can mean so much more: the hidden benefits of hairdressing in dementia care

2026 marks Pat Betts’ 32nd year working at Aria Court, our care home in March, Cambridgeshire. To residents, she is their hairdresser, but her role goes far beyond cutting, styling and washing hair.

Every week, Pat creates a space where residents can reconnect with familiar routines, express their individuality, revisit memories and, perhaps most importantly, feel like themselves.

Here, we discuss just how beneficial Pat’s role can be for residents in dementia care.

Hairdressing & maintaining identity in dementia – What the research tells us

The University of Stirling’s Hair and Care research explored the role of hairdressing in dementia care and found that salon visits can provide meaningful sensory, social and biographical experiences.

Researchers observed that familiar smells, touch, mirrors, salon equipment and the process of having one’s hair done could act as sensory cues, sometimes prompting memories of people, places and earlier periods of life. (University of Stirling)

For Pat, this research is reflected in what she sees every week at Aria Court.

“I’ve been hairdressing at Aria Court for over 30 years and I’ve seen first-hand what having your hair done can make to someone living with dementia,” says Pat. “It’s not just about having your hair done. It’s about making that person feel good about themselves and giving them back a bit of their normal routine and identity.”

How a regular hairdressing service supports care home residents with dementia.

1. Hairdressing can help reconnect someone with their identity

Dementia can affect memory, communication and a person’s ability to recognise aspects of their current circumstances. But a diagnosis does not remove someone’s sense of who they are or their desire to look and feel good.

Pat sees this in practice.

“I’ve seen residents come in very anxious and by the time they’ve had their hair done they’re relaxed, looking at themselves in the mirror and smiling. Very often I get a kiss on the cheek and a hug. They’re like a different person.”

Appearance can be an important part of identity. The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) highlights the importance of the “little things” in supporting self-esteem, identity, self-worth and a sense of self, including a person’s appearance, choices and being listened to. (SCIE)

For someone living with dementia, maintaining these everyday aspects of identity can be particularly important.

A familiar hairstyle, a favourite way of wearing their hair or simply the experience of sitting in front of a mirror can reinforce the message: this is still me.

2. Familiar routines can provide reassurance

A visit to the hairdresser is often a long-established part of someone’s routine.
For some residents, having their hair done may be something they have done every week or every few weeks for decades. Moving into a care home does not mean those routines need to disappear.
Pat’s long relationship with Aria Court means she has become part of that continuity.
The chair, the mirror, the conversation, the touch of a comb and the familiar sounds and smells of hairdressing can create a recognisable sequence of events.
Research into care-based hairdressing describes the salon as creating a distinct space within the care environment – a form of “time out” and “time for the self” that can offer people living with dementia an experience different from the everyday routines of care. (PubMed Central (PMC))
For Pat, the aim is simple: to help residents feel comfortable and give them an experience that feels familiar.

3. Hairdressing can stimulate memories

One of the most fascinating aspects of Pat’s work is the way conversations about hair can open doors to memories.

“I’ve seen hairdressing bring back memories – what colour their hair used to be, if they had it coloured, what work they used to do. Even if they can’t remember what happened yesterday, those older memories can still be very strong.”

This reflects findings from the Hair and Care research, where hairdressers were found to accumulate knowledge of people’s lives through repeated visits. Over time, they became keepers of personal stories, sometimes helping residents to remember details or continue familiar conversations. (PubMed Central (PMC))
This is particularly significant because memory does not necessarily disappear in a straightforward way with dementia. Long-established memories and familiar experiences can remain meaningful even when more recent memories become difficult to access.

Pat’s 30-year relationship with residents gives her an unusual depth of knowledge. This allows her to gently prompt a conversation rather than expecting the resident to remember everything independently.

In this sense, remembering becomes something shared.

4. The salon experience is sensory

Hairdressing is an inherently sensory experience.

There is the sensation of having hair washed, the feel of a scalp massage, the sound of scissors, the smell of shampoo and hairspray, the sight of a familiar mirror and the physical experience of sitting in the salon chair.

Research into dementia and hairdressing has identified these sensory elements as an important part of the experience. Researchers also found that hairdressers constantly responded to clients’ verbal and non-verbal cues, adjusting their approach to help manage comfort and anxiety. (PubMed Central (PMC))

This is something experienced hairdressers such as Pat do naturally.

A resident may not always be able to explain that they are uncomfortable, anxious or unsure about what is happening. A hairdresser who knows them well can notice changes in facial expression, body language or behaviour and adapt accordingly.

The result is not simply a haircut, but a carefully paced, personal interaction.

5. It provides choice and a sense of control

Care can sometimes involve many decisions being made around a person – when they eat, when they receive support and when they attend appointments.
A hair appointment offers an opportunity for personal choice.

How should the hair be styled? Is the water comfortable? Is the dryer too warm? Would they like their usual style?

These may appear to be small decisions, but maintaining opportunities for choice is an important part of person-centred care and helps to support independence after a dementia diagnosis.

SCIE notes that choice, being listened to and attention to the small details of daily life can support dignity, self-esteem and identity. It also highlights how easily a person’s preferences can be overlooked when care becomes focused primarily on risk or routine. (SCIE)

Pat’s approach is rooted in recognising the individual rather than defining them by their dementia.

“For me one of the most important things is that dementia doesn’t take away someone’s need to feel attractive, cared for and liking themselves. I try to see the person, not the dementia.”

6. It can support confidence and self-esteem

There is something powerful about seeing yourself in the mirror after having your hair done.

For Pat, that moment can be transformative. A resident may arrive withdrawn or anxious but leave smiling, looking at their reflection and receiving compliments from people around them.

Research into care-based hairdressing found that the transformative experience of styling could help people with dementia experience their bodies differently and support more positive narratives about themselves. (PubMed Central (PMC))

This doesn’t mean that a haircut “treats” dementia – it doesn’t. Rather, it demonstrates how seemingly ordinary activities can have an important effect on wellbeing, confidence and how someone experiences themselves.

7. Relationships built over time really matter

Perhaps the most important benefit Pat brings is one that cannot be created overnight. It is trust.

After more than three decades at Aria Court, Pat knows many residents extremely well. She understands their personalities, their preferences and their stories.

Research into care-based hairdressing found that repeated visits enabled hairdressers to develop detailed knowledge of people’s lives and become trusted keepers of their stories. (PubMed Central (PMC))

That continuity matters.

When someone living with dementia is greeted by a familiar face who knows them, remembers their stories and understands how they like their hair, the experience can be reassuring in ways that go far beyond the service being provided.

More than a haircut

Despite her long tenure at Aria Court, Pat still sees something special in every appointment.

“After 30 odd years, I still feel that making someone smile, even for a short time, is one of the rewarding parts of my job. Sometimes it’s only a hairstyle, but to that person it’s so much more.”

An important lesson here is that in dementia care, meaningful moments do not always come from specialist equipment or formal activities. Sometimes they come from the familiar rhythm of a comb through someone’s hair, a conversation about the past and the simple pleasure of looking in the mirror and recognising yourself.

For Pat, it is about seeing the person first.

And for the residents of Aria Court, that can make all the difference.

Find out more about Aria Court

If you’re currently considering care homes in the Cambridgeshire area, Aria Court could be the perfect residence for your loved one, whether they have a dementia diagnosis or not.

Combining exceptional care and facilities (including a cinema and, of course, Pat’s salon), Aria Court provides a welcoming, comfortable, and safe environment that supports independence and enrichment.

Visit our Aria Court page to learn more, request a brochure, or arrange a viewing.