A national campaign to professionalise the hair industry by encouraging all qualified hairdressers to become state registered has been boosted by one of Wales’ most dynamic salons.

The multi-award-winning Spirit Hair Team in Ystrad Mynach has thrown its full weight behind the campaign by registering all 13 qualified hairdressers with the Hair Council.

The Hair Council’s campaign for compulsory state registration of qualified hairdressers is being spearheaded by political director and board member for Wales, Shirley Davis-Fox, chairman of Bridgend-based ISA Training, the largest independent hair and beauty training provider in Wales.

Mrs Davis-Fox has met Prime Minister David Cameron and the campaign, which aims to regulate the industry, has won cross party support from MPs in Westminster and Assembly Members at the National Assembly for Wales.

Anyone can currently set up in business in the UK and work with potentially dangerous chemicals as a hairdresser or barber without having the necessary qualifications.

Donna Friend, who set up Spirit Hair Team with business partner Janine O’Callaghan 10 years ago, said: “We insist that all our staff are qualified and they are continuously updating their skills and attending training courses.

“We think it’s important that their qualifications and skills are recognised. Registering with the Hair Council raises the standard of the salon and lets everybody know that we are a professional salon with qualified staff.

“It’s important that we raise standards in the hairdressing industry full stop. There are currently no laws that says you have to be qualified to practice as a hairdresser or barber and state registration is a fantastic way of raising the profile of hairdressing. Hopefully, more salons and hairdressers will get on board.”

Donna said: “I have never come across anyone as passionate about hairdressing as Shirley. She is an inspiration to everybody in the industry and her enthusiasm is infectious.”

Lobbying by the Hair Council has led to an All Party Parliamentary Group on Hair being formed in the House of Commons. The new group, which met for the first time last month, will discuss issues close the heart of hairdressers and barbers, including state registration, minimum wage, apprentices and VAT.

Mrs Davis-Fox said she was delighted that Spirit Hair Team had joined the growing campaign by encouraging all its qualified stylists to become state registered voluntarily. She called on other professional salons across Wales and the UK to follow suit and urged members of the public to only use hairdressers who are qualified.