Worcester Stylists Give Haircuts To Homeless Teen Moms

WORCESTER, MA — A group of local stylists stepped out of their salons and into a Worcester group home to give free haircuts to homeless teen moms. Mentors for Young Mothers, a University of Massachusetts Medical School affiliated program, hosted the event to promote physical and mental health for the young women.

"I am a firm believer in making myself and the world around me a better place," said Kaz Hardy, manager of Rivkah's Hair Salon. There was representation from some of the top stylists in the Worcester area. Joey Oquendo from Klippers and a Dream, Vicky and Eleni Myrovalis from D'iorio's Salon all volunteered their talents and time. Hardy was one of the four stylists who volunteered their time for the cut-a-thon. The mothers rarely have time or money to spend on a haircut and performing the services in the home allowed the mothers to stay with their children.

"I hadn't gotten my haircut in three years. I feel so good," gushed one of the moms as she took another selfie while her peers complimented her clean look. Emily Adler, a member of Mentors for Young Mothers, said the idea for the event came after other mentors heard the moms talking about their inability to get a simple haircut. "We're usually health focused but haircuts have such a huge affect on self-esteem, which is a direct determinant of health and I think we can forget that sometimes," she said.

Adler said the stylists were also excited fro the event and accommodating to the young women. "One of the moms came an hour late and we thought she wasn't going to make it for a haircut," Adler said, but stylist Hardy waited around for her, leaving no client untrimmed. "He stayed an hour longer to cut her hair and she loved it."

This was the first cut-a-thon but the success and smiling faces encouraged the possibility of making it an annual event.