The Life Saving Haircut
Each year in the UK, over 20,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer, and most cases can be successfully treated if detected early. Yet in men, about 1 in 4 melanomas develops in hard-to-see areas such as the scalp, neck and ears. That’s why they’re sometimes called “invisible killers”.
Barbers are in a unique position to notice these hidden spots during everyday haircuts. This guide offers simple, practical advice to help them recognise possible warning signs of melanoma. Because a haircut can do more than change a life. It can save a life.
‘Melanoma skin cancers are one of the fastest growing cancers in the UK. Barbers often see clients regularly and can see things that the client can’t easily spot themselves – looking for something that is new, looks odd and importantly has changed.
Spotting something allows the client to follow up with their GP and in most cases it won’t be anything to worry about. However, if it is a skin cancer and caught early, the cure rates are very high.
It has been particularly wonderful working with Michele, Chiara and Michael and all the people below who freely gave this time to this important project’
Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus.
Chris Ward, a barber from Huckle in London:
“Back in 2018, while working at my shop on Old Street, I was cutting a regular’s hair. As I parted his hair, I noticed a mole on the top of his scalp that I hadn’t seen before. Over the months, it appeared irregular and seemed to have changed in both shape and size.
I eventually mentioned it to him and suggested that he have it checked by a doctor, just to be safe.
He took the advice and went for a medical examination. The mole was removed, and the tests later confirmed that it was melanoma skin cancer. Thankfully, it had been caught in time.”
Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in the UK and the 4th most common cancer in males.
Nearly 9 in 10 cases are preventable as they are directly related from the UV from the sun and sunbeds.
For more information about sun safety, the signs and symptoms of melanoma and how melanoma is diagnosed, visit the Melanoma Awareness page.
Jake is the owner of the No Bad Days Barbershop in Medway, Kent, and helped identify a cyst on his client’s head. Jake said:
“I’ve been cutting Luke’s hair for a while, and I obviously get to see parts of his head that he doesn’t get to see. One day, I was doing a skin fade and noticed a slight rise on the back of his head.
I took some photos to show him and suggested he get it checked out by the GP. Luke is a lovely lad, and I’m really happy we were able to pick this up early for him, as it ended up requiring surgery to remove a cyst.”
Luke Graham said:
“Jake noticed a slight recurring spot on my neck at the bottom of my hairline a few times when cutting my hair, which developed into a lump. I decided to get this checked out, and it turned out to be a benign cyst that would require surgery to remove. Jake was always aware of the lump and took great care when cutting my hair so as not to aggravate it further.”
CREDITS
Creative Director: Michele Bona
Creative Director: Chiara Biondi
Creative Director: Michael De Piano
Producer: Lauren Payne
Producer: Sam Ojari
Film Director: Courtney Hopkins
DoP: Andrew Thomas
Camera Assistant: Paige Fisher
Gaffer: Yoann Desmoyers-Davis
Video Editor: Valentina Grossi
Assistant Editor: Antonio Canestri
Colorist: Valentina Rutigliano
VO Artist: Dave Hartley
Editorial Consultant: Margherita Rubini
Typography Illustrator: David Callow
Post Production: CUT& editing & more
PR Consultant: Claire Foss
Senior Barber: Richard Tucker
Senior Barber: Jaymarie Buckingham
Ruffians Marketing Manager: Elliott Pritchard
Melanoma Focus CEO: Susanna Daniels
Communication Consultants: Louise Akers, Ian Morton
Talents: Aaron Harris, Maasai Starlight Dearlove, Rufus Hunt,
Alfie Thompson
Special thanks to:
Ruffians Barbershop
Fella Barbershop
East Central Barbering Co
London Beard Company
No Bad Days Barbershop
Huckle Barbershop
Jak Howell, Andrea Amighetti, Lewis Gumbrell Aka Sid Da Barber, JJ Savani, Giulia Campana, Miguel Gutierrez, Guy Kleinhaus, Sean Moore, Michael Holm, Savills Barbers & Academy, Anthony Hutton, Ky Wilson and Anthony Laban.
Further information
Questions about melanoma?
