Local hair salons donate cosmetics to FCPD for domestic violence victims | FFXnow

Nov 01, 2024

A beauty supply donation drive organized by the Fairfax County Police Department to support individuals who have experienced domestic violence is coming to a close.

Set to end after today (Thursday), the campaign got a boost earlier this week from the Great Clips hair salons in Reston and Fairfax City, which contributed “several hundred dollars” worth of beauty supplies, according to a press release.

Opened at South Lakes Village Center in 2022 and at Turnpike Shopping Center this past May, the salons got involved in the donation drive after franchise owner Sean Carroll saw a flyer for it and offered to help. The salon teams ultimately collected enough supplies to fill 24 gift bags, which were presented to the FCPD at the Fairfax City location on Tuesday (Oct. 29).

“We are happy to support this great campaign,” Carroll said. “We were struck to learn how many friends and neighbors have been touched by domestic violence.”

Per the release, the FCPD’s Victim Services Division launched the campaign to collect new, unopened cosmetic items after working on a case where the victim requested makeup so she could conceal bruises on her face when she picked her kids up from school.

The victim services division is part of the FCPD’s Major Crimes Bureau and assists and advocates for victims of violent crimes. For those in domestic violence cases, that can include providing emotional support, crisis intervention, help with filing protective orders, and referrals to shelters, counseling and other resources.

“This is the first year we are doing this,” FCPD Victim Services Division Director Saly Fayez said of the beauty supply campaign. “Collecting beauty items by no means diminishes the severity of domestic violence or the critical importance of addressing its physical, emotional, and financial impacts.”

As of noon yesterday (Wednesday), the supply drive had resulted in over $1,000 in donations, enough supplies to fill 60 bags, Fayez told FFXnow.

“Just this morning one of our victim specialists gave cover up to a domestic violence victim who was leaving the hospital to head home to see her children,” she said by email.

The Bank of America branch adjacent to Great Clips in Fairfax City also participated in the campaign, assembling a “sizable gift basket” with makeup purchased by its employees.

“It was great to work with Sean and his team to help Saly’s efforts,” branch manager Miriam Djelloul said when joining Great Clips to present the bank’s donation on Tuesday. “This feels good and makes a difference.”

An international chain with nearly 4,500 independently owned salons in North America, Great Clips is involved in a “Cut It Out” initiative started by the Professional Beauty Association, a trade organization for salon and beauty services workers.

According to Great Clips, Cut It Out trains salon workers to recognize warning signs of domestic abuse so they can “safely refer clients, colleagues, friends, and family to local resources.”

Fairfax County runs a 24-hour hotline at 703-360-7273 that provides assistance to individuals experiencing domestic and sexual violence. Anyone in immediate danger is advised to call or text 911.

Angela Woolsey is the site editor for FFXnow. A graduate of George Mason University, she worked as a general assignment reporter for the Fairfax County Times before joining Local News Now as the Tysons Reporter editor in 2020.