New Bedford Salon Pushes ‘Silent Appointment’ for Mental Health
Anyone who knows me knows that I love to talk. My husband often claims that I would talk to a tree if I thought it would talk back to me. And he’s probably right. However, there are some situations when talking is just not my cup of tea.
One of those scenarios is while getting my hair done. Sometimes I’m in a chatty mood and can talk about anything. Other times, I’m just not up for engaging in conversation and don’t know how to tell the stylist without sounding like a jerk. But that’s a “me problem,” right?
It turns out that I’m not the only one who feels this way. Some of my friends have admitted that there are times when they just want to zone out and enjoy getting their hair done when they are mentally drained and need to recharge. After all, this service feels like a mini spa day and you want to walk out of there feeling like a million bucks.
Well, one local salon solved the problem with one offer; The Silent Appointment. Salon LUIS! In New Bedford published a post on the business Facebook page about the option.
“Please don’t hesitate to ask for a silent appointment if you’re anxious, tired, mentally drained, etc., and just want to avoid conversation and have some quiet time. There will be no judgment…there never is. Regardless of the reason, you are always welcome to utilize this option. Your mental health matters.”
We spoke to Jessica Couto, owner of the salon. She explained that the post was originally shared by a stylist known as @alchemistamber on Instagram. Couto loved the idea and wanted clients to know that it was an option at her salon.
“I think it’s great,” Couto said. “I wholeheartedly offer this concept. With everything going on these days, people are 100 percent open to having our clients sit, relax, and mentally chill.”
Couto wasn’t aware of any other salons that offered the “Silent Appointment” on the SouthCoast, but is confident that it will travel around the industry now. And while no one has taken her up on the offer yet, she thinks that opening that door for them to feel comfortable asking is the first step.
“At times, clients come in and you can read their vibe,” Couto said. “They want to just shut down, and relax. So, we accommodate that.”
I mean, how could you not be tempted to try this at least once in your life? It takes away the awkwardness of making the request on your own by creating it as a service the salon provides itself.
“Sometimes clients feel as if they ‘have’ to talk and be vocal,” Couto said. “When in reality, we would just like to make a safe space for them to take their own time into their hands.”