A skilled hairstylist can save you from the humiliation of a bad cut or color, but more importantly, may one day save your life.

Over at the new 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon, at SALT in Kakaako, owner Becky Gustafson is making sure all the stylists and barbers in her eight-chair shop are certified by Eyes on Cancer to recognize the early signs of melanoma and other skin cancers.

Eyes on Cancer, a national nonprofit organization, grew out of oncology surgeon Dr. Dean Foster’s effort to train beauty industry professionals in the prevention and early detection of skin cancer.

A cancer survivor, Foster realized in talking to his wife, Jeanne Braa Foster, a Paul Mitchell protege, that hairstylists can act as a second pair of eyes for scanning areas like the scalp, back of the head and neck. Individuals can’t see these areas themselves without dedicated twisting and dual mirrors.

Having 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon stylists certified through a 45-minute online training program and exam was a no-brainer for Gustafson, who said she would like every Hawaii salon to consider doing the same. The course is open to anyone for a $10 donation benefiting Eyes on Cancer’s education mission.

“With the sun we’re under, the prevalence of skin cancer in Hawaii and the possibility of making an impact on one life, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have this additional service for our clients,” she said.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with 5.4 million cases diagnosed in more than 3.3 million people annually. It is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer and treatable when detected early.

Gustafson said an estimated 95 percent of Americans will visit a salon at least once a year for a haircut, putting stylists in the perfect place to start a conversation with clients if they see a suspicious growth on skin. Although they are not medical professionals and cannot give a diagnosis, they can suggest visiting a doctor for a formal examination.

“It’s not meant to be a scary conversation, but that comes down to the relationship between stylist and client,” Gustafson said. “We just want to bring attention to something they may not be aware of, and say, ‘Hey you might want to get this checked out.’”

Stylists’ Eyes on Cancer certificates are displayed at their stations, offering an opening to start the conversation.

18|8 Fine Men’s Salon is at 660 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 150; call 829-4373.