Free haircuts are one way Paul Mitchell The School of Pasadena decided to give back to the men and women of the Pasadena Police Department in honor of 9/11 and to celebrate the school’s one year anniversary in the city. A team of beauty students and the school’s dean took over the police department’s second floor assembly room on Thursday and set up a makeshift hair salon where officers and personnel were treated to complimentary beauty services on the house.
“It’s a happy day for us and the team because we really wanted to create magic today and make sure that today was focused on giving back to the community, especially for the men and women in uniform,” said Paul Mitchell The School Dean/Owner Alee Cao.
Cao is a Master Associate for John Paul Mitchell Systems and a Celebrity Hairstylist that brought in a team of ten students into the police station to pamper deserving men and women in uniform in the form of hair cuts, face mapping and scalp and hand massages during their breaks.
“To know they really appreciate public safety so much that they came here to do this for us is a big deal,” said PPD Lt. Tracey Ibarra.
Cao and his team of future professionals delivered world class beauty treatments out of necessity to show appreciation, according to Cao.
“We want to also make sure that our team of students understand the importance of giving back to the community,” said Cao.
The team worked two shifts Thursday to accommodate as many officers as they could throughout the day.
“I enjoy meeting the police officers and making them look good and feel good. It’s fast paced, but its rewarding,” said student stylist Alexandria Araujo.
Paul Mitchell The School plans to keep the officers coming back the rest of the week.
“We will continue to give free haircuts, styling and face mapping services to any uniformed hero that comes to our school location this week,” said Rebecky.
Community engagement between law enforcement and citizens is an valuable effort for the PPD.
“We get a chance through their engagement with us to show them the human side of law enforcement,” said Ibarra. “We’re just people, too.”
Cao’s effort to provide services for the PPD isn’t just to knock down barriers, but to establish friendships within the community.
“A lot of the time people feel intimated by the police, but the police are human beings and our friends. It’s a blessing for us to be able to do something like this,” said Cao.
The School Paul Mitchell engages in community events like this one at various locations across the nation multiple times a year for the military, fire departments and other first responders.
“We would love to come back next year. It’s great to be able to connect and give back as a way to show our appreciation,” said Cao.
