Hair & Care Awarded Funding from the National Lottery Community Fund
We are thrilled to announce that Hair & Care has been awarded funding from The National Lottery Community Fund! This continued support means so much, and will enable us to grow and develop our services, supporting more blind and low vision people.
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Our mission is to create an inclusive and empowering space where our community can thrive, and this funding plays a crucial role in making that possible.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund for believing in our mission and supporting our journey.
Hair & Care on RNIB Connect Radio!
We’re thrilled to share that Hair & Care founder Anna Cofone recently joined RNIB’s Amelia Hilton on RNIB Connect Radio to talk all things Making Fashion Accessible at London Fashion Week 2025!
In this inspiring conversation, Anna dives into our exciting collaborations, how we’re making three runway shows accessible, and the incredible guests from the sight loss and fashion communities who are joining us this season.
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Want to hear all about it? Catch the full interview anytime on the RNIB Connect podcast!
Hair & Care Shortlisted for the Pride of Britain Fund!
We’re excited to share that Hair & Care have been shortlisted for the Pride of Britain Fund Award, selected from nearly 2,000 nominations!
This means we have the opportunity to receive a grant to support our ongoing work supporting blind and low vision people. Your vote can make all the difference and help us make a lasting impact!
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Just choose ‘Hair & Care’ in the ‘South East’ region.
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Voting closes on 2nd March 2025 - every vote counts!
Hair & Care awarded funding by Sylvia Waddilove Foundation
We are so honoured to have been awarded funding from the Sylvia Waddilove Foundation, to support our work empowering blind and low-vision women and girls through accessible hair care!
This grant will help us expand our services, providing accessible resources for blind and low vision women and girls, to build confidence, self-esteem and self-care skills.
A huge thank you to the Sylvia Waddilove Foundation UK for believing in our mission and helping us create lasting impact.
Founder, Anna Cofone, appears on the 'How To Be A VIP' Podcast
We are excited to share that our founder, Anna Cofone, has featured on Taylor Nottcut's podcast, 'How To Be A VIP' for the second time!​
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Taylor attends our monthly workshops and attended the accessible Chet Lo show at London Fashion Week.
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Taylor and Anna discussed the importance of Making Fashion Accessible and how brands can improve the accessibility of their websites to include a group keen to take part.
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The episode is now live on Spotify. Thank you Taylor for sharing your experience!
Hair & Care hosts The Art of Session Hairstyling Masterclass Edition III
This edition took attending hairstylists on a journey of creative and technical learning into the world of session styling - a jam-packed 3 days of immersive challenges, live demos, a fashion week deep dive and a Q&A with special industry guests - and all in support of Hair & Care.
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If you would like to register your interest for Edition IV in 2025, click the button below!
Hair & Care Becomes Part of the Co-op Local Community Fund
We are really excited to share that Hair & Care CIC is now part of the Co-op Local Community Fund!
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If you hold a Co-op membership, you can select us as your chosen cause - meaning a portion of each shop you do will support our work at Hair & Care and our mission to support blind and low vision women and girls!​​​
Hair & Care bring accessibility to London Fashion Week
This September at London Fashion Week, Hair & Care collaborated with designer Chet Lo to help make his SS25 show accessible to blind and low vision guests.
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Guests, including Lucy Edwards and Hair & Care workshop participants, experienced Chet’s show through tactile fabric swatches and audio descriptions of each garment, allowing them to listen to and feel the looks as they appeared on the runway.​
Not only did guests have the chance to listen to an introduction audio description by Chet himself, detailing the inspiration behind the collection, 'Mai's Blossom' and giving them greater insight into the meaning behind the show, but they were also able to meet with the designer after the show to discuss their accessible experience.
We are so proud of reaching another accessible fashion milestone!
Hair & Care bring accessibility to Copenhagen Fashion Week
​On August 7th 2024, Hair & Care partnered again with designer Sinead O'Dwyer to create an accessible show for blind and low vision guests, as she debuted at Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Hair & Care welcomed blind and low-vision guests from the Danish Association of the Blind and RNIB, who experienced the show through pre-recorded audio descriptions and tactile swatches of the design fabrics.
We made Fashion Week History with the first-ever blind model to walk the runway in Copenhagen, Lucy Edwards.
A very proud moment for Hair & Care!
Respect for Hair Lab 2024
On the June 19th, Hair & Care attended the Respect for Hair Lab event. It was a fantastic evening - such an amazing opportunity to share our story and mission, and to share the stage with so many inspiring speakers.
Hair & Care and Anna Cofone are proud to announce
'The Art of Session Hairstyling' Masterclass Edition III.
This 2-3 day inspiring course is a chance for hairstylists and brands to immerse and support the inspiring mission of Hair & Care. Attendees will gain knowledge and creativity, combining the perfect blend of artistry, planning, and core technical skills with editorial & show work, including a deep dive into the business side of the industry.
The Materclass will take place on the 4th, 5th and 6th November 2024 in Shoreditch, London, with 2-day and 3-day packages available.
Spaces are limited!
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Hair & Care shortlisted for Creative Head ‘Most Wanted: Award for Innovation’
We are so proud to be named a 2024 Finalist for this award.
At Hair & Care, we strive to make the industry more inclusive and accessible for the blind and low vision community. To be recognised as an innovative organisation for our work educating and upskilling hairstylists in accessibility, and amongst so many other incredible names, is an honour!
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Hair & Care featured on BBC London News
Hair & Care made its debut on BBC London News on the 22nd of May 2024!
A very proud moment for all of us showcasing the importance of accessible hair care and hair styling for the blind and low vision community.
'The Art of Session Hairstyling' Masterclass with Anna Cofone. Edition II.
We had an amazing couple of days exploring the world of session hairstyling. Focusing on enhancing skills through techniques, revisiting iconic hair looks, discussing how to gain inspiration and putting new skills into practice.
If you are Interested in joining our next 'The Art of Session Hairstyling' Masterclass with Anna Cofone,
please register your interest by pressing the button below!
RNIB See Differently Awards
Our Hair & Care founder, Anna Cofone, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the RNIB Volunteer Award!
The RNIB See Differently Awards 2024 have chosen three finalists from each category, The winners will be announced on Tuesday 21 May 2024.
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We are thrilled Anna is being recognised for the hard work and passion she puts into Hair & Care!
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Congratulations to all other finalists, we can't wait for May!
See Saw Podcast
'Hair to Empower with Anna Cofone of Hair and Care'
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Our founder, Anna Cofone, drops by See Saw Podcast to talk about her foundation ‘Hair and Care’ that provides hair and self care workshops for young women that are blind or visually impaired.
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See Saw podcast: "T & Cleaves started See Saw with the aim of giving a different perspective on Disability and Visual Impairment. Both being registered blind, they were unsatisfied with ‘mundane’ podcasts for disabled people, and so formed See Saw to give a different perspective."
Thank you to the team at See Saw!
'How to be a VIP' Podcast
Our Hair & Care founder, Anna Cofone, is in an episode Taylor Notcutt's 'How to be a VIP'
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"How To Be A VIP' is a podcast about living as or with a visually impaired person, and aims to help you, our lovely listener, see the world through our eyes."
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Head over to the podcast to listen to Anna & Taylor's conversation, discussing all things hair care, and personal experiences relating to the VI community.
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Out Now
Hair & Care in British Vogue
The amazing success of Sinead O'Dwyer's AW24 show, including it becoming the first ever accessible fashion show for blind and low vision people, has been written about in British Vogue.
We are so proud to have been mentioned in the article, we are excited to continue this journey on bringing awareness to blind and low vision women, especially within the beauty and fashion industry!
Please read the article here.
Thank you British Vogue
Thrilled to be bringing awareness to accessibility for the blind and low vision community within the beauty and fashion industry. So happy with Sinéad O'Dwyer's beautiful show, and working together to make this happen.
This is only the beginning, so much more to come!
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Thank you Dazed Media!
Sinéad O'Dwyer AW24
Sponsored by Hair & Care CIC
On Friday 16th February 2024, Hair & Care sponsored the Sinead O'Dwyer AW24 show with the support of Authentic Beauty Concept, Olivia Garden Europe, Easy Dry, creating the first, ever, accessible fashion show for the blind and low vision community.
Our founder, Anna Cofone, the lead hairstylist for the show, took the opportunity to push for the inclusivity of the blind and low vision community. Working with Sinead O'Dwyer was the perfect, as she is a trailblazer for inclusivity within fashion.
We invited the Lucy Edwards, Claire Sisk and Emily Davidson, who are all incredible blind women paving the way for the community through their social media presence.
To make the show accessible we; introduced the women to the designer prior to the show, they were told about the collection, and felt the garments. Backstage their hair was done by Anna & the team, once seated for the show they were given their audio descriptions of each look in the collection.
This was an equally important and empowering moment for the blind and low vision community, and for the fashion, beauty and hair industry.
'The Art of Session Hairstyling' with Anna Cofone is back!
Our founder, Anna Cofone, will be hosting a second 'The Art of Session Hairstyling' Masterclass in April 2024.
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We are very excited to be collaborating on 'The Art of Session Hairstyling' once again, with all proceeds going towards the running of our Hair & Care Workshops.
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This masterclass will be a creative, intimate and immersive experience, set over two days, in an inspiring location in East London.
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For more information, and booking, email:
Hair & Care Survey
Our Hair & Care Survey is back, and improved. We now have an even more accessible process, and have opened the survey up to all genders!
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We are continuing our research, and would love to hear as many experiences and opinions as possible. We aim to help make the beauty industry accessible for blind and low vision people across the UK.
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So please head over to our survey and let us know what you need from the beauty industry!
Hair & Care Webinar with
Queen Alexandra College
On 17th January 2024, we held a webinar with some students from Queen Alexandra College in Birmingham. Queen Alexandra College “is a National College and Charity for People with Disabilities. Offering courses for young people aged 16-25 yrs as well as employment focused and supported living programmes.”
It was great to answer all our attendees questions about their own hair and hair care routines. It has been great to speak to service users in Birmingham. We are very happy to be widening our reach.
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Hair & Care Webinar with Blind in Business
On 9th January 2024, we held a Hair & Care Webinar with Blind in Business. Blind in Business is an organisation helping “blind and low vision graduates to compete equally with sighted candidates for good jobs, by providing help, support and training, and by removing barriers to success.”
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Led by our founder, Anna Cofone, this webinar focused on how developing hair care skills can positively impact the job hunting process. Discussing ways the webinar attendees can care for their hair and simple tips and tricks, which will help them feel presentable and confident stepping into the world of work.
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We covered possible internship opportunities, simple ways to make your hair care routine more accessible, tips on styling hair without heated tools, and why hair care is important in the employment process.
Hair & Care Workshop at RSBC's Dorton College
On 5th January 2024, we held a Hair & Care Workshop at RSBC's Dorton College in Orpington. Dorton College are "an independent specialist college in the London Borough of Bromley. We offer a day provision for blind and low vision 16-25-year-olds and many of our students have additional needs."
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It was amazing for us to meet the team, learn more about what they do, and meet a lovely group of new attendees!
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We are so happy to start the new year with a Hair & Care Workshop. It was great to introduce a brand new group of attendees to our workshops, covering the fundamentals of hair care, learning the uses of all the brushes in our Hair & Care kit bags, understanding their hair texture and how to take care of their scalp.
National Lottery Award
Hair & Care CIC has received funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. We are excited to share the good news!
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At Hair & Care we are delighted to let you know that we have been successful in our bid to secure funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.
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We really appreciate this award and all the help it brings us, ensuring we can keep supporting our Hair & Care community, of blind and low vision women and girls, through our workshops.
Hair & Care Survey
At Hair & Care we have created a survey, helping us with our research into the best ways to create an exciting new resource, which will extend our reach much further.
We are asking blind and low vision women and girls, across the UK to let us know what we can do to help.
Our aim as a CIC is to help create a more accessible and inclusive community within the beauty industry.
We need your help to do this.
Find the link to our survey below, make sure you share with any friends and family within the blind and low vision community.
Hair & Care Workshop at Linden Lodge School
We are very excited to share, Hair & Care will be doing a workshop at Linden Lodge School, for their students.
We will be holding the workshop on 7th December, we are looking forward to sharing Hair & Care with a group of new attendees, widening our community.
Linden Lodge School is an incredible school for pupils who are blind or have low vision. Offering "a highly specialised curriculum that enables children and young people who are blind or have low vision to engage, achieve and be prepared for life as active citizens."
At Hair & Care we are delighted to be bringing our workshops to such an inspiring institution. We will be covering the fundamentals of hair care, distinguishing hair types and learning techniques for different hairstyles.
Tribute Magazine's
'THE ART OF SESSION HAIRSTYLING' Article
Hair & Care CIC are hugely appreciative, and happy to share with you, Tribute Magazine's new article covering 'The Art of Session Hairstyling' Masterclass with Anna Cofone.
This Masterclass has not only raised funds to support the running of our future workshops, it has also allowed us and others, to spread the word about what we do at Hair & Care CIC, helping create more awareness for blind and low vision women.
Thank you Tribute Magazine for supporting us through coverage of the masterclass.
'The Art of Session Hairstyling' Masterclass with Anna Cofone
Hair & Care CIC is proud to announce the success of The Art of Session Hairstyling Masterclass, in association with Anna Cofone.
A percentage of the funds generated from the Masterclass was donated to support Hair & Care's mission to empower blind and low vision women and girls in their journey of self-care through hair care.
Hair & Care CIC would like to thank all the supporters of the Masterclass including Tribute Magazine, JJ Media Group, N5 Catering, Denman Brushes, Authentic Beauty Concept and Emma Matell for helping to make this event a reality.
HAIR & CARE FOCUS GROUPS
We will be hosting two focus groups. We would love people to join us in finding out beneficial ways to reach as many blind and low vision women across the UK.
We are looking for: BLIND OR LOW VISION WOMEN
AGED 18 - 60 YEARS OLD
ONLINE FOCUS GROUP
DATE: 19th October 2023
TIME: 11:00am
DURATION: 90mins
LOCATION: Zoom Meeting
IN-PERSON FOCUS GROUP
DATE: 2nd November
TIME: 15:00pm
DURATON: 90mins
LOCATION: Hackney Depot
ADDRESS: 5 Sheep Lane, Hackney, London, E8 4QS
EMAIL US: hairandcareproject@gmail.com
ANNA COFONE IS A 'MOST WANTED INDEPENDENT STYLIST LEGEND'
Our founder, Anna Cofone, has been awarded Creative Head Magazine's 'Most Wanted' Independent Stylist LEGEND award! Having won the Independent Stylist award 3 years in a row; 2020, 2021 and 2022, she has now become a Legend.
An incredible award to have won, she continues to share Hair & Care with others in the industry, pushing for changes in accessibility and inclusitivity.
TRIBU-TE MAGAZINE:
ANNA COFONE: HAIR & CARE
Session hairstylist Anna Cofone has worked for more than 20 years in hairdressing both as a salon hairdresser and now a highly renowned session stylist. Her career portfolio includes working with clients ranging from the most high profile celebrities (Lana Del Rey and Dua Lipa top the list) as well as revered designers, magazines and photographers.
Anna grew up with a father who was blind. She uses the memory of this experience to offer help to women and girls who are blind or have low vision, to share help and knowhow in supporting them in learning how to care for their hair. In setting up Hair & Care, Anna and other volunteer hairstylists introduce blind and low vision women and young girls the fundamentals of hair care in a safe environment.
'The Art of Session Hairstyling'
A Masterclass with Anna Cofone
Our founder, Anna Cofone, shall be hosting an intimate, immersive 2-day masterclass, for hairstylists wanting to break into the session industry.
This amazing opportunity will be available for up to 16 people. With a percentage of the proceeds going towards helping fund our workshops.
For more information about the masterclass click 'Read more'.
HAIR & CARE IS NOW AN AFFILIATE OF THE BRITISH BEAUTY COUNCIL
We are very excited to announce we are now an affiliate of the British Beauty Council. We are so happy to have been chosen, and to be amongst a group of incredible organisations.
We are looking forward to continuing to grow, and reach as many VI women and girls as possible.
Read the British Beauty Council article for more information.
THE HAIR & CARE X DENMAN PADDLE BRUSH AT LANA DEL REY'S GLASTONBURY SET
Our founder, Anna Cofone, used her Hair & Care X Denman Paddle Brush to do Lana Del Rey's hair, onstage at Glastonbury!
You can spot the Hair & Care X Denman Limited Edition Paddle Brush in action on stage. We still have the brushes available to buy online.
HAIR & CARE WERE AT THE RETINA UK CONFERENCE
On Saturday 24th June, Hair & Care went to the Retina UK conference. This was a day full of learning and raising awareness about the blind and low vision community. We loved sharing what we do with more people within the community.
This included the current level we are at with medical treatments, research, information and support. It was a great opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field of sight loss, and continuing to learn what we can do to help.
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HAIR & CARE LAUNCHES A SESSION HAIRSTYLING MASTERCLASS
"The art of session hairsyling" a masterclass with Anna Cofone.
Read the latest Front Row Pro article for full details. If you would like to start your career in session hairdressing, email studio@annacofone.com.
A percentage of the profits from the workshop will be used to continue Hair & Care's activities to support the blind and low vision community.
HAIR & CARE FOUNDER HOSTS A WEBINAR WITH RETINA UK
On the 18th of May, Hair & Care founder, Anna Cofone, hosted a webinar for Retina UK user services. The webinar was a guide on how to determine the texture and type of hair and what type of products to use accordingly. How to wash your hair and what routine to follow with your hair care products such as shampoo and conditioner. During the session, Anna reflected on the impact that hair care can have on a person's self-esteem and how the Hair & Care workshops are making a difference in the lives of our users.
Do you want to give back, empower and transform your community using your hairstyling skills?
JOIN HAIR & CARE AS A VOLUNTEER
Volunteer at the next Hair & Care workshop, live a transformative experience, gain empathy skills and give back to the community with your hairdressing knowledge and skills. How to do it? Email hairandcareproject@gmail.com
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