Every day is exciting when you are a Hollywood hairstylist, like Joico celebrity artist Jill Buck of 901 Salon in LA. But no day is as exciting as the ones she spends with the BeYOUtiful Foundation, a charity dedicated to bringing beauty, confidence and hope to women of all ages who are fighting cancer against all odds. Today, Jill invites you to hear about this special mission, and to learn how you can help give this meaningful gift too.
THE STORY
The BeYOUtiful Foundation is a non-profit committed to connecting salons and stylists with their local communities, offering online education (cutting, styling, creating and using wigs, and styling chemo hair), and being present at every stage, from diagnosis to remission and beyond. With a mission to help women of every age and in every stage of life, from little girls and young women to new mothers and businesswomen, the BeYOUtiful Foundation provides a place to laugh, a place to cry and, most importantly, a place to feel beautiful.
For Jill Buck, who takes part in their weekly events, that mission is as important and heartfelt as the work she does behind the salon chair. “I am so happy to be able to use my skills to help others. For a long time I thought I wanted to be a doctor, and the idea that hairdressing has brought me close to patients who need help has become a complete sense of purpose.”
HOW IT WORKS
Whether you are a salon owner, a hairstylist or simply a “beauty person” who truly wants to help other women get through the challenges of the fight against cancer, the BeYOUtiful Foundation offers an exciting, multi-faceted charity programme.
BEAUTIFUL DAY
Create a salon fundraising event for your local cancer charity. If you are a salon owner, gather your team and encourage them to donate their time, love and resources to benefit your local cancer community. How? Host a salon event offering free haircuts to all cancer patients, as well as to anyone who donates ten inches or more of their own hair to the BeYOUtiful Foundation. Other clients get a flat-rate haircut, and 100% of that money is donated.
Jill explains: “These event days feel like a hectic, bustling day at the salon, but in a fun environment. We have music, food, raffles, gifts and merchandise… all happening while we cut hair non-stop. It is one of my favourite days of the year!” If you are interested in hosting an event like this, the Foundation is ready to help with support, information and even a BEAUTIFUL DAY box full of gifts and fun to make sure you have a great event. Not in the salon business? Talk to your hairstylist, tell them about this charitable opportunity, and consider donating your own long hair.
BEAUTIFUL HAIR
Donate real hair to make wigs. Encouraging clients to donate hair after a big cut makes this vibrant wig programme possible. Jill explains: “We accept all hair types (8 inches and longer), and colour-treated hair is fine too. Our main focus is bringing wigs to the people who need them most because of hair loss from chemotherapy. When a client sits in my chair ready for a change, or simply has a giving heart, we take everything slowly. I set aside a little extra time and guide them through the options for cutting eight inches or more. Carefully tying the dry hair with small elastics lets me stay in control while making such a big change.”
The efforts have been richly rewarded, as Jill works closely with UCLA Children's Hospital, where she visits young patients and helps them get the wigs of their dreams. What do these exciting hospital days look like? “I mostly do the shampooing and visit each child in their room to chat and talk about everything… from their favourite toys to their favourite hair,” she says. “When the kids are ready, I shave their heads and take measurements for the wig.” Within 4 to 6 weeks, Jill returns, delivers the wig and shows the child how to wear it.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP AND DONATE
[BEYOUTIFUL FOUNDATION]