MONROE, CT — Stylist Doris Ritenour combed Wendy Mitchell’s hair up to find the perfect spot for a purple hair extension, during an appointment inside her salon Monday morning. After securing it into place, Ritenour used a pair of scissors to snip off the end, matching it to the length of Mitchell’s hair.
Purple is the color of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Mitchell, who is The Center for Family Justice‘s director of development and marketing, is promoting #Hairdos4Hope, to raise awareness and funding for the nonprofit’s annual Faces of Hope campaign.
“I know people who have been impacted by domestic violence and I feel it’s something that should be talked about,” Mitchell said.
Every nine seconds, a woman is assaulted in the U.S. Mitchell will make a short nine-second-video showing off her purple streak and share it on social media with the hashtags: #Hairdos4Hope, #9SecondsofHope and #Every1KnowsSome1.
She will share it with Ritenour’s salon, Hair by Doris in Gaslight Square, 500 Monroe Turnpike, and three friends.
In the same spirit as ALS’s ice bucket challenge, #Hairdos4Hope will be a fun way to gear up for Faces of Hope, The Center for Family Justice’s annual appeal for donations. CFJ provides resources and services for victims of domestic violence, and child and sexual abuse.
“People don’t think it happens in suburban towns like Monroe, but at The Center for Family Justice we have seen over 5,500 people last year from all six towns we serve,” Mitchell said. “I hope people will participate in our awareness and fundraising campaign.”
This month, participating salons will give customers purple hair extensions or dye a purple streak or braids in their hair, with an appointment, for the suggested donation of $25 to CFJ.
So far, Mitchell said the online #Hairdos4Hope campaign has received commitments from Hair by Doris in Monroe and SaSa Salon, 10 Broadway Road in Trumbull. CFJ’s other cover towns are Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield and Stratford.
Salons interested in participating in #Hairdos4Hope should call Wendy Mitchell at 203-993-8121 or email her at wmitchell@
“I know people affected by domestic violence,” Ritenour said. “People don’t like to talk about it. I want to speak out, so others aren’t afraid to.”
Every Wednesday in October, those who come into Hair by Doris or call for an appointment can ask for a purple hair extension or for Ritenour to dye a purple streak in their hair for the suggested $25 donation, all proceeds will go to CFJ to benefit its clients.
To schedule an appointment at Hair by Doris, call 203-880-9776.
Those who do not want to color their hair purple can still donate to CFJ’s The Faces of Hope campaign. Donations will be collected at Hair by Doris or contributions can be made online by clicking here.
