A Penrith hairdresser who suffered a life-changing injury and spent two years recovering, decided to relaunch her salon by offering a special silent service to support diversity and inclusion.
Janet Horne, 51 (pictured), runs the Mirage unisex hair salon, based on Gilwilly Road, on the Gilwilly Industrial Estate, Penrith.
Janet was involved in a terrible bicycle accident in 2021 while trekking in Dumfries and Galloway, and after returning to her business decided she wanted to do something completely different.
“I had a very bad accident. I fell off my bike. I went off a bridge with no barrier. So I was off work for two years altogether. I still have problems now. It has been a life-changing injury really. I am very lucky, at least I can work now.
“It was a freak thing. I broke my ribs on my side, suffering a flail chest where the ribs come away from the sternum. Collapsed lungs. Fractured shoulder blade. It went on and on.” While still suffering pain, she has made a strong recovery and is now back in the salon several days a week.
“I believe that places need to be quite inventive and reinvent themselves, otherwise you can become a bit stale. I wanted to introduce a new service that would be a bit different,” says Janet.
Whilst the salon remains open for all customers, an additional service is now being offered where customers can choose to experience a quieter, even silent experience.
“People love the talk in the salon, and the chat and the buzz of the salon, and people like that and that will not change. It is just an additional service for people who want that.
“It is just the right thing to do. It just feels right. We are a chatty salon and we chat with each other and everyone loves that. But also I am very passionate about neurodiverse issues as well. I have two daughters who are neurodiverse.”
Janet says the service is for anyone who feels uncomfortable with the usual bustle in her salon. “It’s for people who lack confidence, and for people who have got mental health issues. Some people have had a bereavement and find it very difficult when somebody says to them ‘how are you?’. A lot of people for different reasons find it difficult. It’s about saying to people, you are welcome.
“A lot of people don’t come near a salon because they are frightened of it, they may have a social anxiety.
“I think it is so important to make everyone welcome. I just want to raise awareness. It’s promoting diversity and equality in a nutshell.
“I don’t need to know what their background is. People can ring up and say ‘I just want a silent treatment please’ and they will be looked after. I am passionate about it.”
Mirage’s ‘Shhh Silent Treatment’ service includes:
1- A Silent Treatment, the hairdresser and the client do not speak, but there are other people in the shop.
2 – One to One Treatment – where there is no one else in the salon.
3 – Mirrorless Appointment – where people have the choice to not have a mirror present.
But services can be tailored to make people feel comfortable.
Mirage’s Silent Treatment service is launching on July 1st. If anyone is interested in booking a slot, they can contact the salon on 01768-890313.
