A MILFORD Haven salon is backing a national campaign aiming to improve safety standards in the industry.

Todaro’s, which has employs 26 people in Milford Haven and Haverfordwest, is supporting the Hair Council’s drive for compulsory state registration of qualified hairdressers.

Louisa Thomas, a director at Todaro’s, said: “People are opening hairdressing salons without having qualifications,” she said.

“We work with a lot of products and chemicals which could potentially be dangerous in untrained hands.

"It’s really important to have qualifications so that hairdressers know how to use these products and to test for allergic reactions."

All 19 qualified hairdressers at the award-winning family firm have signed up to the scheme, which is led by Shirley Davis-Fox, chairman of Bridgend-based ISA Training, the largest independent hair and beauty training provider in Wales.

Mrs Davis-Fox has lobbied senior politicians, including former Prime Minister David Cameron, and the campaign has won cross party support from MPs in Westminster and Assembly Members in Wales.

Added Louisa: "We hope Shirley and the Hair Council are successful in getting legislation through Parliament to help professionalise our industry.”

Preseli-Pembrokeshire MP, and Todaro's customer, Stephen Crabb is also supporting the campaign.

Mr Crabb said: “I am delighted to see Todaro’s leading the way in promoting high standards of training and excellence in the hairdressing sector.

"It is good to see them working with the Hair Council to raise standards and improve professionalism.

"The voluntary national register of qualified hairdressers is a practical step that will support this.”