For the past two years, American Salon has been proud to support the work of the National Cosmetology Association and Clairol Professional's Cut It Out program. The aim of this award-winning community service program is simple: to mobilize our industry to make a difference in the lives of victims of domestic abuse. The statistics are disturbing, to say the least: Every year, one in three American women will fall victim to domestic abuse; and domestic violence is the number one cause of death in pregnant women.
 Brett Vinovich |
To date, Cut It Out has educated thousands of salon professionals on how to recognize, respond and refer victims to resources like the national domestic violence hotline (800-799-SAFE), and has mailed over 250,000 Cut It Out salon posters and safety cards to salons.
This month, Cut It Out is calling upon salons across the country to "Adopt-a-Shelter" locally and be part of an effort to mobilize salons nationally in support of local women's shelters. While these community shelters serve as safe havens for those in need, most of them are underfunded and understaffed. And although the work they do is powerful, their needs are often amazingly simple: personal care items like toothpaste, lipstick and shampoo, and diapers, clothes or small toys for children are always in short supply.
 Cut It Outs Adopt-a-Shelter program launches with this issue of American Salon |
The Cut It Out Adopt-a-Shelter program launches with this issue of American Salon. Be sure to read the step-by-step guidelines on how to connect with local shelters and social service agencies that work directly with abused women and help them start new lives for themselves and their children.
We all know that salon professionals have big hearts. By encouraging the adoption of shelters for domestic abuse victims in every community, we are organizing the power of an entire industry to reinforce Cut It Out's most important message: There's no excuse for abuse.
—Brett Vinovich, Publisher American Salon
E-mail Brett at [email protected]