Styles, Cuts, Conversations

An NAACP Linn Benton Branch Program Funded by Linn Benton Lincoln Health Equity Alliance. Serving Albany & Corvallis, Oregon.

Counties We serve:

People have always talked about what matters most in the chair: family, stress, health, life. This program formalizes that dynamic into something that can make a real difference

What IS STYLES, CUTS, AND CONVERSATION?

Styles, Cuts, and Conversation (SCC) is a community-driven health and wellness initiative rooted in a simple but powerful truth: healing and trusted guidance already exist in BIPOC barbershops and salons.

Our goal isn't to train barbers and stylists to become clinicians, but rather to become community health advocates. Through the SCC program, they will learn how to hold a supportive conversation, recognize when someone may need help, and connect their clients to the right local resources.

The Core Model: BIPOC barbershops and salons are already trusted community anchors -- visited regularly, culturally resonant, and free of clinical stigma. Barbers and stylists roles, as trained community connectors, is to:

• Open conversations about mental wellness & health

• Reduce stigma and build health literacy

• Share local resource cards and make referrals

• Know when and how to safely escalate

THIS MATTERS BECAUSE:

Chronic Disease Disparities

BIPOC communities face higher rates of hypertension and diabetes complications-- driven by structural barriers, not individual behavior.

Historic Distrust of Systems

Lived experience with formal healthcare can deter preventive care-- even when conditions are treatable and local services exist.

Fewer Entry Points Locally

Linn & Benton Counties have fewer trusted, culturally relevant ways for people to access health support than larger urban areas.

Mental Health Access Gaps

Culturally affirming mental health services are limited, reducing help-seeking behavior and delaying early intervention.

"Why barbershops and salons?"

In Linn and Benton Counties, and in many communities across the country, traditional healthcare systems don't always feel accessible or welcoming to everyone.

Mental health stigma
Limited culturally affirming services
Historical mistrust of formal systems

can all create barriers to getting help early, when it matters most.

BIPOC barbershops and salons are different. They are culturally anchored, intergenerational spaces where authentic conversations happen naturally. The relationships there are built on: (1) trust, (2) consistency, (3) mutual respect, the exact foundation that health conversations require.

The program model is designed to be practical, low-burden, and deeply respectful of the barbershop environment.

How our program Will work

Training
Barbers receive structured training in mental health awareness through the Linn County Health Department.

In-Shop Tools
Barbers receive conversation cue cards and a local resource guide to support natural, informed conversations.

Clear Protocols
Escalation protocols provide guidance on what to do when additional support is needed.

Designed for the Shop
Everything is designed to fit naturally into the flow of a working barbershop.

The two phases:

Phase 1-- Launch Priority

Mental wellness & trust

Mental health literacy
Conversation skills & boundaries
Referral pathway creation
Local resource mapping
In-shop toolkit activation

Phase 2-- Optional Expansion

Physical health expansion

Blood pressure awareness
Diabetes risk education
Preventive care navigation
Clinical co-partner workflow integration
Community Member Advocacy

We did not build this program on hope alone. It is grounded in a growing body of peer-reviewed research showing that community-based, barbershop-centered health interventions produce real results, especially in populations that face barriers to traditional care.

A cluster-randomized trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that bringing medical care into trusted BIPOC barbershops can improve health outcomes. The study showed that combining community trust with medical partnerships can lead to meaningful health improvements, such as:

Lower systolic blood pressure -- the top number in a blood pressure reading, measuring the pressure of blood against your artery walls when your heart beats. (American Heart Association, 2025)
More people reached their recommended health goals, supporting better overall health.

Victor et al. (2018), New England Journal of Medicine, Barbershop Blood Pressure Study

Additionally, research shows that barbers can effectively serve as trusted health advisors. Even brief, culturally relevant, and grounded conversations in familiar spaces can:

Increase willingness to seek help
Reduce stigma
Improve participation in preventive care

Barbershops Serve As A Mental Health Safe Space For Black Men (May 27, 2026)

The Confess Project of America; Transforming Mental Health Through Community Connection

GET INVOLVED AND BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION:

Community partners are needed to help launch pilot projects in Albany and Corvallis. Every role matters, here is how you can be part of this effort:

Medical co-partner:

A physician, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or behavioral health lead who can co-design protocols, support barber training, and ensure safe referral pathways are in place.

Health department advisory support:

Assistance with resource mapping, referral alignment, evaluation, and connecting the program to county health equity priorities.

Pilot barbershop or salon site:

A shop owner committed to the program's values, dignity, confidentiality, and cultural affirmation, with space for an in-shop resource station.

Financial anchor or sponsor:

Creating something meaningful takes more than good intentions, it takes financial commitment. We are looking for anchors who are ready to invest in lasting, community-driven change.

Trusted Spaces,

Real Conversations,

Measurable Health Impacts.

IF YOU ARE AN:

NAACP member
Health professional
Community organization,
Local business that believes in meeting people where they are

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

JOIN THE LINN BENTON NAACP

LEARN HOW TO GET INVOLVED

For donation inquiries, please contact Shirley Kickner at: healthlinnbentonnaacp@gmail.com.