Maryland barbers join the fight against domestic violence

BETHESDA, Md. —  For many, a trip to the salon or barber shop is more than just a haircut — it’s a rare moment of vulnerability and connection. Now, the state of Maryland is tapping into that unique “chair-side manner” to help combat domestic abuse.

Starting January 1, 2026, a new state law will require all Maryland barbers and cosmetologists to complete a mandatory one-hour training course on domestic violence awareness as a condition of their professional license.

For local barber Warren Martin, the new requirement isn’t just another box to check for the state; it’s a lesson he wishes he had years ago.

Inside his shop, Martin has seen thousands of faces. But one particular memory of a young boy brought in by his adoptive parents still haunts him.

“I had an incident where I had a customer and… they would bring him in for haircuts,” Martin recalled. “Later on, I started seeing bruises and scabs on [him] and everything. Then they stopped bringing him to me. It threw up a red flag.”

At the time, Martin didn’t have the training to know how to address his concerns or where to direct the family for help. “I didn’t have a chance to ask him how he got his bruises,” he said.

Under House Bill 1547, the Maryland Department of Labor will oversee a curriculum designed to turn beauty professionals into a “first line of defense.” The one-hour certification—which can be completed in person or virtually—will focus on four key areas:

• Recognizing the signs: Learning to spot physical indicators (like bruises on the scalp, neck, or ears) and verbal cues that suggest a client is in danger.
• Navigating conversations: How to listen empathetically without overstepping.
• Safety first: Strategies for discussing sensitive topics in a way that doesn’t put the victim at further risk.
• Connecting to resources: Providing a direct bridge to shelters, support groups, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Maryland joins a small but growing list of states, including Illinois and Tennessee, that have passed similar legislation. The movement has even reached the federal level with the “SALONS Stories Act,” a bipartisan bill introduced in Congress to incentivize this training nationwide.

The logic is simple: Domestic violence victims are often isolated from friends and family, but they frequently continue to visit their hair stylists. Because stylists work in close physical proximity to a client’s head and neck areas where abuse is often visible —mthey are uniquely positioned to intervene.

“The reason for the barber’s license is to protect the public,” Martin says. “I’m on board with it.”