Haircuts, shape-ups and shaves for the men. Cuts, coloring and styling for the women. Blood pressure checks at no charge.
A number of hair salons in Rochester offer a different way to make patrons feel good about themselves.
'A lot of our clients don't get regular checkups,' said Johnnie Cuyler, owner of Guys and Dolls Hair and Boutique, 756 E. Main St., which recently received a free blood pressure kiosk that is available any time the shop is open.
Through a collaborative of the Rochester Business Alliance, the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency and distributor New York Blood Pressure Inc., of Mendon, nearly two dozen salons, barbershops, churches and libraries have received the kiosks at no cost.
New York Blood Pressure has some older models that have been free to a good home to a business that otherwise can't afford the couple thousand dollars for a used machine, said vice president Ellen Miller.
The criteria are minimal. 'We have to make sure there is enough space, and we have to make sure it's the right kind of spot, where people gather,' she said.
Cuyler placed the kiosk in a sun porch. It drew a stream of customers the first few days after it was installed.
'A lot of us, meaning blacks, have high blood pressure due to our diet and not exercising,' she said. 'We walk around not knowing our blood pressure and do not take time to check. Being here in the salon, while you're waiting you can go to the machine and check your blood pressure.'
Before installing the kiosk, Guys and Dolls had received periodic visits by student nurses who would take readings as part of the blood pressure collaborative. Cuyler said clients would call to find out the day, but some still couldn't make it.
When Miller offered a kiosk, Cuyler jumped at the opportunity. This would be more private and it would always be there.
'They could do it more often,' she said. 'It would give them an idea if it was high or low and they could decide to do something about it.'
The kiosks are like those found in pharmacies or grocery stores. In addition to providing the blood pressure reading, the machines have information that puts the two numbers into context.
Phyllis Jackson, who works with Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency on getting the community involved in the blood pressure collaborative, has helped Miller place many of the kiosks, including the one at Guys and Dolls.
'She's just so committed to doing this work,' Jackson said.
Phyllis Jackson(Photo: Staff photographer)
Some of it may be personal, since high blood pressure runs in Miller's family. She takes her blood pressure every day.
'I know my numbers,' said the 48-year-old. 'It's important.'
Miller said her company is getting new models, and the older ones would only be taking up space. 'The goal is to get them out in places where they can be used and benefit the community.'
The machines keep track of how many readings they take, and some have done thousands, Jackson said.
The kiosk at Sharp Edgez Barber Institute on South Avenue already has been used more than 300 times, said co-owner Tomeika Bryant.
Bryant said a lot of people will fit a haircut into their schedule but not necessarily make a separate trip to get their blood pressure checked.
'When it's at a place they know they're going to go, it doesn't feel like they're going out of their way.'
PSINGER@DemocratandChronicle.com
Twitter.com/itsabouthealth
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