Preston hair salon bins gossip magazines in show of support for mental wellness

A Preston city centre hairdressers has vowed to stop stocking gossip magazines to help support its customers’ mental wellbeing.

Steve Ryding Hairdressing in Lune Street has decided to take the step in the wake of Caroline Flack’s suicide, which saw showbiz publications criticised for their coverage of the TV presenter in the run up to her death.

Stylist Hayley Falkingham said the team had been shocked by Flack’s passing, and wanted to make a positive change for their customers.

Hayley said: “As a salon we do our best to support mental health. We get clients coming in who express their feelings to us, and we try to give advice or will take them to a private space if they need a shoulder to cry on.

“It really hit home about Caroline Flack and the negative impact these gossip magazines can have on people’s mental health, so we decided to remove these publications from our salon.

“We want to make everyone feel welcome, and our doors are open to anyone who needs to talk, not just our clients.”

Steve Ryding staff putting gossip magazines in the bin — Staff including Hayley (pictured right) say they’ve been shocked by the death of Caroline Flack

Steve Ryding also supports women in need through offering free cut and blow dries with apprentices to women from local refuges.

Hayley said: “It’s great to be able to have a positive impact on these women, whether it’s because they’re going for a job interview or if it’s simply to help make them feel a bit happier.”

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