It had been a long time since Heather Bell had her hair professionally done.
“I’ve been cutting my own hair since I was 17,” said Bell, now 25.
After “falling in with the wrong crowd” and “making bad choices,” Bell fell into a life of drug addiction before getting clean. She currently lives at Katherine’s House, a transitional housing facility in downtown Kent for women and has been cleaning up her life and working on her nursing degree at Green River Community College.
On Friday, Bell and 12 other women were treated to free makeovers at the Humanity Salon as a special outreach for Mother’s Day. Bell and the rest of the women sat smiling in the chairs as stylists washed, cut and colored their locks.
“I don’t think I’ve been pampered like this since I was 13,” Bell said through a huge smile.
Behind Bell, her roommate at Katherine House, Deanna Shoemaker, echoed the sentiment.
Shoemaker, a mother of two and grandmother of two, also is recovering from addiction. She said it’s been a year since she’s even had a trim.
“When you’re in recovery for addiction, you don’t have money for a haircut,” Shoemaker said as her stylist worked over her dark hair with a blow dryer.
Shoemaker said a haircut is a “luxury” that she just can’t afford right now.
And for Shoemaker, Friday’s event could not have come at a better time.
“I have a job interview on Tuesday, so the timing of this makeover is perfect,” she said, adding that she will feel more confident heading into her interview with a new look.
“It’s a good self-esteem boost,” she said.
Sue Levy, a mother-of-one from Maple Valley, has been unemployed since the recession claimed her job in November and said it has been since October that she has had her hair done. Levy was referred to Humanity’s special day through her church, Real Life, and agreed with Shoemaker about the boost to self esteem a makeover brings.
“It just gives you a huge lift to feel like you look pretty and go out there and find that job with a smile on,” she said. “I’m just being treated like a queen.”
The Mother’s Day Makeovers are the first official community outreach from the Humanity Salon, a new hair salon in downtown kent that donates 20 percent of the cost of all haircuts to local non-profit and charity organizations.
“We just figured being close to Mother’s Day it seemed like a natural thing to do,” said John Bensen, who owns the salon with his wife Charissa.
Along with haircuts, the women also had their makeup done by Mary Kay representatives and were able to pick out some clothing from the Salon’s “mobile boutique” room of donated clothing.
In total, 13 women were scheduled for makeovers Friday.
“It’s a cool thing that’s happening here today,” said Charissa Bensen. “It’s about getting involved and helping others.”
Bensen, who celebrated her first Mother’s Day this year, said she has learned in just the three months since giving birth that the baby comes first. Sometimes something for mom – like a nice haircut – can be a luxury.
“To be able to have some ‘me time’ or ‘mommy time’ is very important,” she said, adding “They can come here and get a whole new look.”
Brandy Tierney, program director for Katherine’s House said the makeovers really help the women make a “fresh start.”
“A lot of the time these gals come in and haven’t been able to take care of themselves,” Tierney said. “It’s something we take for granted when we can afford it.”
Tierney also echoed the women’s sentiments that it is nice to know there are people in the community who care about them.
“For these women to see that they’re cared about is huge,” she said. “It’s a huge leg up.”
John Bensen said the hope is to do more of these outreach events with the goal of eventually doing one per month.
Back in the chairs, it was smiles all around as the makeovers neared completion for the first round of women.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to have luxury,” said Megan Liller, a mother of four and a recovering addict. “It’s really appreciated.”
The Humanity Salon is located at 109 2nd Ave. S. For more information visit www.humanitysalons.org or call the salon at 253-981-4182
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