Wheeling Middle School Students Treated to Free Haircuts at Wildcat Hair Care Studio
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WHEELING - Wheeling Middle School students got the chance to receive free haircuts and some styling tips thanks to the Wheeling Wildcat Hair Care Studio.
The event was held Thursday at the school with a few hair care professionals on hand to do the work.
Several of the students said they were glad to take part in the activity as some had not received professional haircuts for weeks, months or even years.
"It was pretty nice," said seventh grader Shawn Rene of the experience. "Kids have options and if your school is doing something like this you should take advantage of it."
Rene's hair was cut by barber Tom Williams of Tommy's Classic Touch of Wellsburg.
"He just wanted it lightened up a bit. He likes to wear it long on top," Williams said of Rene's hair.
Williams said in addition to giving haircuts he also taught the students the important aspects of being a barber such as sanitation.
"I like cutting everybody's hair. I've been blessed with something I like to do," he said. "That's what I was telling the first two fellas; I didn't know what I wanted to do so I worked at UPS for 30 years, hard work. Now I get to do something I enjoy. And it's good to give back."
Williams noted he learned about barbering from his father who also was a barber, but he also attended Wheeling Barber College. He eventually took over his father's shop.
Seventh grader Addy Brady received a trim and some styling from McKinley Kimmins of Cirque de Cheveux of Wheeling.
"I just thought it would be a lot of fun," Kimmins said. "I don't get to go out of the salon very often. ... I was available and I thought it seemed like a lot of fun."
Eighth grader Dataira Smith said she decided to take advantage of the school program because she needed a trim.
"I haven't had it trimmed or cut for a few years," she said.
Her hair stylist was Rica Dabney, owner of Just Me & More in Wheeling. Smith noted Dabney has been her hair stylist for years and also does her mother's hair. Smith received a trim and styling with a flat iron.
"I love giving back to my community. I went to Wheeling Middle School when it was called Wheeling Junior High," Dabney noted.
She had a few words of encouragement for other students to try the program in the future.
"Your hair is your signature. Who doesn't want their hair to look beautiful?" Dabney said. "I'm having a crazy hair day today, but your hair is your signature."
Seventh grader Emily White received a hair trim from Kimmins.
"I wanted a new style, a new look," White said of her reason for participating.
White said she was hoping to have her hair dyed blonde in the future as the hair care studio was only doing cuts and styling.
Teacher Trisha Cronin organized the event after noticing how the students like to play with and sort of style their own and each other's hair while at school sometimes. She also believed the students could use some tips and would also appreciate learning more about the profession.
"When you look good, you feel good," she said. "I love having my hair done and getting pampered myself. So I wanted to give the students the opportunity to do that and also maybe learn how best to care for their hair. ... The more we learn the better we can take care of it and then we can feel good about how we look."