Most of the time we think of dermatologists as the front line in the prevention of skin cancer, along with patient self-exams that should be performed on a monthly basis, but the Harvard School of Public Health is studying of all things how your hairdresser can help in this battle. Harvard researchers interviewed about 200 Houston area hairdressers to ask about their observations related to skin cancer and prevention. Of the hair professionals surveyed, 40% reported they routinely looked at their client’s scalps for moles and suspicious lesions. Even more encouraging was the report that 70% of those hair professionals said they were likely to provide clients with a skin cancer prevention pamphlet during their salon visit. This study highlights an innovative partnership between hair professionals and dermatologists not only in Houston but also across the nation. Unlike dermatologists, on average men and women see their hairdresser every four to six weeks, and this provides a wonderful opportunity for monitoring for skin cancer on the neck, head, and scalp. These are areas many patients cannot observe themselves during routine home self-exams. According to the American Cancer Society, melanoma of the neck and scalp account for approximately 6% to 10% of melanoma deaths in the United States. More information on this study was published recently in the Archives of Dermatology.