At Back-to-School Time, Free Haircuts Help

Potomac Local Leaders

Back to School preparations are at a seasonal high. Actually, based on a recent study by Four Square, this weekend is projected to be the busiest Back-to-School shopping weekend in 2013.

Even though a new academic year for students is critical in setting the tone for scholastic success, the real story for many kids is the timeless dilemma of ” I have to look good for my first day of school.”

The enormity of the pressures of the first day of school are comparable to trying to solve Northern Virginia’s traffic congestion in a day. This is especially true for teenagers – it’s a big deal. 

Lets face it, when you look good you feel good. With the support of companies like Hair Cuttery, no child should go without a chance to make their 1st day of school picture perfect. Since 1984, Jennifer Joyce has been making people look good as a Stylist, Assistant Leader, Salon Leader, and currently District Leader for Hair Cuttery. Everyday is the first day of school for her costumers as Jennifer oversees training, coaching and development, grand openings, and marketing operations.

As an Osbourn High School alumni and raising her familiy with her husband Tom Joyce, Jennifer believes in her community and invests in it everyday. 

Q&A

Vickers: You seem to always be on the go. I’ll account that to the number of stores you manage. What is Hair Cuttery’s national footprint look like and what part of that footprint do you oversee?

Joyce: Hair Cuttery is the largest family owned and operated chain of hair salons in the country, with nearly 900 company-owned locations on the East Coast, and in New England and the Midwest.

I oversee fourteen salons located in Prince William and Fairfax County. Managing all of these salons definitely keeps me on my feet!

Vickers: I’ve been luckily enough to be a trainer at your regional retreats for your teams. Your leadership team invest in people with such care. What is it about the Hair Cuttery experience that is so special including, your staff culture and costumer experience?

Joyce: In our salons we definitely try to WOW our clients. From when they enter the salons, to their consultation, shampoo and hair cut service, we want clients feeling refreshed and delighted. We want them to love the way they look.

I truly value my team of stylists. Without them, as you know, I wouldn’t be here! Education is a key part of being a member of our salons. We host a lot of trainings and educational classes to better help our stylists be the best. We are in an industry that is always changing, and we want to keep our stylists on top of their game.

Hair Cuttery, and especially my salons, work hard to give back to the community as best we can. Being in the Northern Virginia area, there are so many great programs – such as Boys and Girls Clubs! – and groups that do so much in our communities, and we really want help to them in what they do.

Vickers: Last year Potomac Local News reported on a great program called Share-A-Cut involving free haircuts during the back to school rush. Are you offering this program again and what’s the history of Share A Cut?

Joyce: Share-A-Haircut is our annual back-to- school program that helps disadvantaged children in our communities receive a free haircut. This will be our 14th year of Share a Haircut. From August 1st-31st, when a child under 18 years of age goes into any Hair Cuttery to purchase a haircut, Hair Cuttery donates a haircut to a child in need.

Fourteen years ago we asked our stylists what cause was important to them. Being that many of our stylists are parents, they believed the best way we can give back to our communities is by giving away free haircuts during the back-to-school season. This was the spark that started our Share a Haircut program!

As many parents know, families spend a lot of money on their children to prepare for the new school year. A free haircut can go a long way for any family, especially those in need. A fresh new haircut will help these children go back to school feeling confident to start the new year.

Our goal this year is to give away up to 100,000 haircuts in our communities! We work with local non-profit organizations, such as the Boys and Girls clubs, and other groups that service underprivileged children to help distribute the free haircut certificates.

With the help of everyone in the community, together we can reach our goal! When your child needs to get their back-to-school haircut, come into Hair Cuttery so that another child in the community can benefit too!

Vickers: What are some of the hottest trends in your industry that everyone needs to look out for in the Fall?

Joyce: For girls, there are a few hair trends that will be popular this fall. Bangs are back! From small elementary-aged girls to girls in high school, many are asking our stylists to give them bangs. Side swept bangs, and full-fringed bangs that go completely across your face are the two main styles clients are asking for.

Braids have made a come back as well. From fish tale braids to French braids, it’s a quick easy trend that girls can do before they head off to school in the morning.

Having the ombré look is still trending as well. Ombré is a great option for older girls that are looking for a change of color in their hair, and most importantly, it is easy to maintain!

For boys, short hair is coming back. A lot of our young boys are asking for that faux-hawk look. The faux-hawk can easily be styled and maintained, which makes this style so popular.

Vickers: Based upon your track record of community involvement , your efforts reflect a local nonprofits mission and heart instead of a hair salon. without being too humble, please tell us some of the other community projects you’ve been a part of recently?

I have been a part of many different programs. Here are a few organizations I have been fortunate enough to be a part of:

Relay for Life, Susan G. Komen, Battered Women Shelters, Hair for Handicapped, Buzz for Change, The American Red Cross, Kona2013, Girls on the Run – NOVA and the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Join Jennifer and Hair Cuttery team before the end of the month to Share A Cut. While your here you might as well Share A Story. What are some of your best or worst back to school stories?

Potomac Local Leaders series are the stories and interviews with the men, women and youth that through their commitment to community change the world each day Glenn Vickers is Regional Director of the Prince William/Manassas Boys & Girls Clubs. His experience in creating sustainable private/public partnerships for social change is his passion. Strengthening philanthropic resource development, corporate citizenship and business operations keeps him busy. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @GOVickers. Enthusiasm is contagious.