Many women find a good hairdresser, go to him or her for years, get to chat and ultimately share many of their problems and secrets with them.

That is why a team of researchers from Ohio State University decided to study the relationship hairstylists have with their older clients and see how that relationship could ultimately improve the health of their clients.

Among 40 stylists in Columbus, Ohio, who took part in the survey, more than half said they felt very close to their older clients.

Part of that closeness comes from the information clients share about their personal lives.

According to the survey, stylists said clients talk about health problems, family, financial and emotional problems, and anxiety and depression.

The study was published recently in the Journal Of Applied Gerontology. The stylists did not just listen, but they also offered support and sympathy, tried to cheer up their clients, gave advice and often tried to get their clients to speak to someone.

"Our results suggest that most stylists care about their clients and would be willing to help them," said researcher Keith Anderson, an assistant professor of social work at Ohio State University.

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times.