Hairdressers have long been a place you can get a few things off your chest and have a good gab — a chance for an informal mental health check-in while you get a trim.
WARNING: This article contains some graphic images that may offend some readers.
But not many customers expect skin checks to come as part of the package.
Queensland's health Minister Yvette D'Ath was getting her hair cut for her birthday when her hairdresser Tahnee Hudson noticed something she had not seen before on Ms D'Ath's scalp – a freckle-like growth about "the size of a pea".
"Yvette was in for a normal eight week cut and colour," Ms Hudson said.
"I'd sectioned up her hair and [there was a] freckle which I thought initially was not consistent with both the sides and the diameter was a bit blurred and discoloured."
She took a photo for Ms D'Ath to take to her doctor the next time she got her skin checked.
The minister said she knew she had to get it checked straight away, recognising the potential danger of the spot.
"When I had a look, it certainly had all the signs of something that was concerning," Ms D'Ath said.
"As someone who gets their skin checked regularly, when [Ms Hudson] said she spotted something, I thought I need to get this checked quickly."
Ms D'Ath got her skin checked the next day and learned the spot was a serious melanoma.
After getting the melanoma removed Ms D'Ath said she is feeling "sore" but "relieved" and has "lost count of how many staples and stitches" are in her scalp.
In the wake of the experience she urged other people to get their hairdresser (or someone else) to check their scalp for the signs of melanoma.
"It's one place we can't check on our body and it's really hard to find something like that in your hair other than at the hairdressers," she said.
"I would say to all other hairdressers, if you do spot something on anyone's head, please bring it to their attention.
"We know melanoma is the most dangerous cancer, we know Queensland leads the way when it comes to skin cancers with the highest rate of skin cancers in the world."
As for Ms Hudson, she said she often finds moles and freckles on her client's scalps, advising them to get them checked without "making them too nervous about it".
"That is the second time I have found a melanoma," she said.
Ms Hudson doesn't consider it an official part of her job, but said hairdressers are in a unique position to notice new growths and changes.
"When we go get our skin checked they are quite thorough most of the time, they check between your toes, but not always your hair, so hairdressers are actually the best person, especially if you're seeing them on a regular basis."
"Don't feel pressure, I just feel it is part of my everyday job."
