DoSomething Day 2018: Homeless receive high-end salon haircuts for free
HAIR stylists from some of Sydney’s top salons took time out of their busy day to give Newtown’s homeless and disadvantaged a makeover.
Inner West
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HAIR stylists who normally charge up to $250 for a haircut gave their time for free on #DoSomething Day today cutting hair for the homeless.
DoSomething Day founder Jon Dee — who was on hand at the Sydney event at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre on King St — said just a few hours of the stylists’ time could make the world of difference for someone who is homeless or disadvantaged.
“It’s given people a sense of pride in their appearance again; it gives them a fresh start. All of us feel good when we’ve had a fresh haircut.”
“When you are living on the street or having a really tough time you don’t feel good about yourself. We are trying to change their outlook, help them get back on their feet and give them a fresh spring in their step.”
Mr Dee said the aim of DoSomething Day, now in its fifth year, was to help others in the community and try and make their lives better at the same time.
He said Australians had a reputation for looking out for each other but some of that has been lost over the past few decades.
He came to Australia from the UK in 1992 to set up Planet Ark with Australian tennis champion Pat Cash. He later joined forces with Australian singer Olivia Newtown John in the One Tree Per Child initiative.
But since he moved here he believes “we have really gone backwards in Australia in helping people who are not doing as well as we are”.
“We have become too focused on ourselves — getting our second TV set, getting our second car,” he said. “We have lost touch with our neighbours and fellow Australians.”
He hopes the day will encourage people to think about lending a hand to others or getting involved in charities such as Meals on Wheels which in some communities has seen a drop in its volunteer take up.
In Newtown, hairdressers from 10 Sydney salons took part in the DoSomething Day initiative and by lunch time had cut 40 people’s hair. They expected to have done between 50 and 60 cuts by the end of the day.
They are part of social enterprise organisation Sustainable Salons. It supported DoSomething Day by organising hairdressers all across Australia to cut hair for the homeless.
Sustainable Salons co-founder Paul Frasca was at the Newtown event today.
The Newtown Neighbourhood Centre was handing out free soup cooked up by Two Good which provides food for people in need.
DoSomething Day is organised by the DoSomething Foundation in partnership with NewsLocal, Leader Community News and Quest Community News. In NSW, it’s also kindly supported by Your Local Club.
THE GOOD DEED FEED: