Barbers across Nottingham are being trained to help with the detection of early signs of health conditions. Fourteen barbers and hair salons across Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire are part of a UK first pilot being run by start-up firm Cortigenix.
As part of the scheme, which begins this month, hairdressers will be trained to take samples of customers' hair samples. They will then be sent to a lab to test the level of cortisol - a hormone responsible for regulating health, mainly in response to stress.
From the sample, analysts are able to identify people who may be at increased risk of developing future chronic illness and mental health problems. Dr Adam Massey, founder of Cortigenix, said there were two reasons the company had targeted barbers and hair salons.
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"They're places you can find members of the public and the community, so there's undoubtedly a convenience factor," he said. "But also what we're looking to do is raise awareness of the notion that you can assess health through hair samples."
Dr Massey said taking samples allowed researchers to go "back in time" in people's lives, as cortisol levels in hair fluctuate at different points due to factors such as stress and diet. The Cutfather, in Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, will be one of the sites joining the pilot.
Owner Kadir Balanur said: "We like to help, we have a good location. It's interesting, people can find out about a serious issue, and if we can help with that it will be great."
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