Haircare brand Pantene is helping workers in Canada return to the office with inclusion, support and allyship in mind through its #HairHasNoGender campaign in partnership with LGBTQ+ organisations, Pride at Work Canada and Dresscode Project (DCP).
This latest initiative marks the campaign’s third year, which continues to highlight hair as a form of identity and expression, and was inspired by research that showed 53% of LGBTQ+ feel the need to hide their identities at work.
The campaign involves education and storytelling from members of the LGBTQ+ community. This year, Pantene supports 12 members of the community from around the world who tell their lived experiences and highlight the importance of workplace allyship.
The group involves people from various backgrounds and careers, including a lawyer, model, and race car driver. Canadian trans artist Vivek Shraya, an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary, also features.
The launch of the latest campaign on May 17th, which was the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, includes releasing a new YouTube film series called Workplace: Re-imagined. The series explores the importance of hair in identity expression and how an inclusive work environment can help LGBTQ+ people feel confident and more able to be their authentic selves in the workplace.
Pantene has also launched educational materials, including advice for employers and individuals to make their workplaces more inclusive. Co-created with Pride at Work Canada and Dresscode Project, they are available on the Pantene Canada website.
Via the campaign, Pantene continues its long-term collaboration with Dresscode Project, an alliance of safer hair salon spaces, for the third year running. DCP’s aims are for every hair salon and barbershop to be a gender-affirming safer space for LGBTQ+ clients and expand the DCP-accredited salon network globally.
Pantene and DCP are currently working to facilitate inclusivity training for hairstylists and create counselling spaces. Founder Kristin Rankin has also launched educational materials on LGBTQ+ allyship available on the Pantene website.
Lisa Reid, Country Leader, P&G Beauty (Pantene), said: “At P&G, our mission is to ‘lead with love’, and we are continuously striving to create an inclusive workplace to encourage individuals to feel confident to express their true selves, including how they wear their hair.
“We know this results in a more collaborative and positive workplace for all. With the help of Pride at Work Canada, Dresscode Project and the other LGBTQ+ partner organisations, our goal is to help educate and equip organisations and individuals with the necessary tools to become better, more supportive allies.”
Vivek Shraya said: “Your workplace is like your second home. When you’re in a space where you’re just trying to do your job, and the people around you aren’t supportive of who you are or make it difficult to express yourself, it makes it difficult for you to work. So many queer and trans people feel like we can’t bring our whole selves to work. No one should have to compartmentalise who they are in the workplace. I’m so grateful to be able to be all the things I am in my job and be treated with respect by my students and colleagues.”
In this article, you learned that:
- The Pantene #HairHasNoGender campaign was inspired by research that found that 53% of LGBTQ+ feel the need to hide their identities at work.
- Pantene has launched educational materials and advice for employers and individuals to make their workplaces more inclusive and is co-created by LGBTQ+ organisations Pride at Work Canada and Dresscode Project (DCP).
- DCP’s aims are for every hair salon and barbershop to be a gender-affirming safer space for LGBTQ+ clients and expand the DCP-accredited salon network globally.
