Cuts for Change: How Hair Aid Breaks the Poverty Cycle

Hair Aid is an extraordinary organization dedicated to providing livelihood skills training to women recused from the sex trade, drug lords and those who live in critical poverty, and hair cutting skills. Once trained, the ladies can earn money, and create a pathway out of poverty. In Australia Hair Aid conducts Community Cuts events, providing free haircuts to those who need a hand up.
Hair Aid now has seven international projects a year, and 20+ hairdressers at a time come on each project.

Training can be under a tree or on a basketball court – wherever space and people are willing to learn. In five days, the locals learn five basic cuts. With their newfound skills and also the hair-cutting kits donated through Hair Aid, the locals can go on to open their own businesses – even on the side of a road – to start earning money to feed their children. To date, Hair Aid has trained over 6700+ people.

Show notes for podcast episode 175

LET’S MEET OUR GUEST – Selina Tomasich

I’m talking with the founder and CEO of Hair Aid, Selina Tomasich. an academic with a teaching career spanning 20+ years. Selina teaches business, specifically; Entrepreneurship, Law, Human Resource Management and Marketing. Selina describes herself as a ‘dedicated nerd’, with a passion for education and learning. Selina holds five university qualifications, including a Doctorate of Law. She holds an international Patent for creating online technology. She has created eight apps, written academic books and is published in peer-reviewed journals. Selina has taught at the University of the Sunshine Coast, University of Queensland, QUT, as well as international universities.

The Beginning of Hair Aid

Selina's journey with Hair Aid began during a backpacking trip, where she met international tourists involved in entrepreneurship and child protection. She learned that children often thought to be found by adoption agencies or NGOs, were instead falling into the hands of drug lords and sex traffickers. This realisation, combined with her love for trades and entrepreneurship, inspired Selina to create Hair Aid. She saw the potential of new skills to open new pathways for those in need.

Hair Aid’s Global Reach

Today, Hair Aid operates in Guatemala, Thailand, the Philippines, and Cambodia. The five-day basic training provided by Hair Aid includes gifting the trainees with tools, skills, and a certificate of completion. This comprehensive support equips them to start their own businesses and sustain themselves and their families.

Recognizing the need within Australia, Hair Aid launched the Hair Aid Community Cuts (HACCs) program. Hairdressers volunteer two hours of their time every six weeks to provide free haircuts. With over 150 requests for services across Australia, the demand is significant, highlighting the need for more volunteers.

Volunteering and Fundraising: How You Can Help

In Australia and Internationally: Hairdressers and barbers can volunteer both in Australia and internationally. They can participate in training sessions, donate their time, and help organize events.

• Future Projects: Hair Aid is continuously planning new projects to expand its reach and impact.
• Volunteering: Hairdressers and barbers can volunteer both in Australia and internationally.
• Fundraising: Hair Aid’s most successful fundraising initiatives include high teas, GoFundMe campaigns, and salon raffles. Hair companies often donate products for fundraising efforts.
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Hair Aid emphasizes the importance of corporate social responsibility. Hairdressers and salons can share their involvement with clients, encouraging them to support the cause. Clients might even make direct donations, further fueling Hair Aid’s mission.

Listen to episode 175 of the Colour Kristina Talks Podcast to learn all the amazing things the Australian-based charity Hair Aid is doing both internationally and within Australian communities, and why you need to get involved.