Happiness doesn’t always arrive as a punchline or a belly laugh. Sometimes it turns up disguised as a hairdryer, a mannequin head or simply the confidence that comes from plaiting your own hair. That’s why we’re delighted to announce Hair & Care as our latest Laughology Happiness Fund winner. This London-based CIC supports women and girls with sight loss to build confidence, independence and community through accessible hair-care workshops.
Hair & Care was founded in 2019 by hairstylist Anna Cofone, who has worked with celebrities such as Lana Del Rey and Dua Lipa. Anna was inspired by her personal experience of growing up with a father who was blind. Today, her organisation runs free, monthly, fully accessible hair care and styling workshops designed specifically for blind and low-vision women and girls.
As Fiona Quinn, Hair & Care PR and marketing manager, explains: “Our service users learn about hair care and styling skills and techniques, in a safe, open and inclusive environment to help boost confidence and self-esteem, while also reducing isolation and loneliness.”
The skills matter, but the benefit goes well beyond hair
“Living with sight loss can often be linked to experiencing social isolation and poor mental health,” Fiona continues, “but the confidence, self-esteem and connection gained from these workshops have an impact that goes far beyond the practical skills.”
And this is important because while the beauty industry has made progress in recent years, Fiona points out that it remains largely inaccessible for people with sight loss.
“From product design and packaging to the shopping experience and actual services, it’s often inaccessible,” she says. “Many people avoid salons because of fear of inaccessibility or of stylists not having the right training to effectively support people with sight loss.”
Hair & Care was created to flip that experience on its head, offering a safe, inclusive environment where participants can learn at their own pace, without fear or awkwardness. And it also challenges misunderstanding.
“There’s a misconception that blind and low vision people don’t care about visual things like hair, beauty or fashion, but these things are deeply entrenched in identity, self-expression and confidence – and inclusion in these industries is so important,” explains Fiona.
The workshops are taught using sensory-based techniques, focusing on inclusive language, touch, movement and even smell, proving that confidence doesn’t need a mirror. Participants start with the basics, such as scalp care, washing hair and understanding hair types, before progressing to more complex styling. Over time, confidence grows, skills improve – and expectations shift.
“We’ve had participants who joined with little to no knowledge of how to care for their hair, who are now mastering more complicated techniques or styles they might not have had the confidence to approach before,” says Fiona.
The impact cannot be underestimated
“We’ve seen participants flourish,” Fiona says. “People who were incredibly shy have become more confident, actively taking part, and supporting others.”
That confidence, she explains, has knock-on effects.
“Many have gone on to reintegrate into community activities, re-enter education and even move into employment, having built on their confidence through skill building and self-mastery.”
Hair & Care runs one workshop a month, has helped over 500 women and girls, and demand is high. The Laughology Happiness Fund grant will help the organisation increase capacity and improve delivery by enabling the purchase of new materials and equipment.
“We are so grateful for this grant because it will enable us to support more blind and low vision people, building confidence, independence and creating connections,” says Fiona.
And we’re proud to support Hair & Care because if laughter is one side of happiness, this is the other: empowerment, connection and the deeply underrated joy of feeling good about yourself.
