Hi lovelies,
Being able to get around is something that many of us take for granted - even us beautify queens. But it’s not something that comes easily to a substantial chunk of the population. Around a quarter of people have a disability or will develop one at some point in their lives.
Accessible Makeup
To bring the point home, there are now brands developing accessible makeup products. These are for people with limited hand ability, allowing them to brush up without necessarily requiring the help of another person.
Putting on makeup can be physically difficult for people with certain disabilities and medical complaints. For instance, patients with Dupuytren’s contracture can find it hard to grasp implements. Those with shoulder, wrist and arm injuries can also struggle. And there is an entire class of individuals who lack grip strength or sufficient hand-eye coordination to apply makeup to the face.
Brands such as Kohl, however, are helping the industry turn the corner. Their products feature thick bases that allow people with disabilities to grab them easily. They also offer differently-shaped brushes, changing the angle at which to apply makeup. Brushes typically protrude laterally from the brush instead of vertically from the handle, as is the case for most brushes.
Accessible Beauty Blogs
Using computers can also be challenging for people with disabilities. Just navigating menus, seeing screens and so on is difficult. But with accessible beauty blogs, that’s becoming a problem of the past. These sites offer larger typefaces and simpler navigation, making it easier to consume content. They also offer text-to-speech and speech-to-text, depending on the content - great for the blind and hearing impaired. What’s more, a little like this article, these blogs provide in-depth information for disabled people, making it easier for them to access content they need that they can’t get from regalar sites.
Accessible Beauty Businesses
Disabled people often have tremendous untapped talent. But because of the current way that society is set up, they can’t always find outlets for it.
Disabled beauticians are a case in point. These individuals often have fantastic skill in what they do, but they can’t work because of problems with accessing salons or the materials they need to work. And that’s bad for everyone.
Today, though, many salon owners are investing in different types of threshold ramps. These sit between the ground outside and the main door, providing a smooth surface for wheelchairs and walking aids.
Salon owners are also investing in things like adjustable chairs and easy-grip tools that allow disabled beauty therapists to work more efficiently.
Whether these changes will make a profound difference in the way the industry operates more broadly remains to be seen. But implementing new kinds of accessibility could help the beauty industry to thrive. We’re already seeing the arrival of disabled competitors in competitions. And there are also many more disabled beauty influencers than there were in the past. As more people become disabled in the future, this sort of thing is going to become the norm in the future.
