Beauty industry workers have been consulted at length about the legislation, which has been fine-tuned amid fears staff could be held liable for missing signs of abuse and concerns over whether customers would welcome advice from their stylists

"The whole idea is to help hair dressers deal with disclosures. There is a right way and a wrong way to talk to someone. It can make or break the way a person handles their assault," says JJ Magliocco, of domestic violence prevention charity Quanada. "We are teaching them that they can make a difference. They don't have to keep their mouth shut."

Read more: The world’s oldest woman is a domestic abuse survivor

Salon workers who suspect customers are being abused will be trained how to act on their suspicions and how to pass on help through options such as helplines, safe houses, restraining orders and access to legal support.

The training focuses on identifying warning signs among both female and male customers, with one in three women and one in seven men experiencing violence at the hands of a partner in their lifetime, according to Kristie Paskvan, the founder of domestic violence charity Chicago Says No More. In Britain the figures are one in four women and one in six men.

Women's Aid is trialling a similar scheme to the Illinois initiative in areas of London, Brighton and East Sussex. Called "Ask Me," the domestic abuse charity trains people in service industries to spot and understand signs of domestic abuse, giving them the skills to respond appropriately to domestic abuse victims who reveal their situation, and training them in the most appropriate ways to offer support.

Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid in England, said:“Asking for help with domestic abuse is not easy. Women who report abuse do so five times on average before they get the support that they need. Early intervention and community support are vital tools in working to end domestic abuse.”

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse and are in immediate danger, always call 999
Refuge and Women's Aid runs a freephone 24-hour Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247

Hairdressers and beauticians are being trained to spot signs of domestic abuse