Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center guests got gussied up and treated to free manicures, haircuts and facials when the nonprofit foundation Beauty Bus paid them a visit Wednesday afternoon.
The Los Angeles County organization, whose volunteers are all professional beauticians, sets up several pop up salon events per month and makes regular at home visits to treat people with illnesses and their caretakers.
“They get to feel beautiful on the outside, which in turn makes them feel beautiful on the inside,” Beauty Bus Director of Programs Bonnie Kleiger said.
Often, people who are sick are prodded and poked during doctor visits, and Kleiger said having a soft touch when getting beauty treatments is comforting.
Though not everyone who went to the event at the Senior Center was sick, Beauty Bus was recruited by California Resources Corporation to make both the women and men at the center feel special.
Ida Barba, who is an administrator with CRC, a Beauty Bus board member and a Senior Center Volunteer, hopes to bring the pop up back to the center in the near future after getting an “overwhelming response” that the attendees enjoyed themselves.
“It brought to light how many of the seniors are in need of these services,” Barba said.
After getting a facial and a sparkly red manicure, senior Tommie Mae Ward said she felt like she was in her 20s again and was ready to go to a dance party Wednesday night.
“I felt like I was in heaven,” she said. “It’s so nice and relaxing. I just love it.”
For senior Della Lopez, getting a manicure and a facial is a rare treat.
“It’s the best,” Lopez said. “It’s nice to be pampered.”
While waiting to get her bangs trimmed, Diana Mendoza said she was looking forward to her new hairdo.
“It’s nice,” Mendoza said. “I’ve never been treated like this.”
Professional manicurist and first-time volunteer Bri Figueroa was happy to see how excited the seniors were to get their nails done.
“I can tell they are grateful because they are not getting this often,” she said.
Beauty Bus volunteer Jenn Bailey, a professional hairdresser of 14 years, has been partnering with the organization since 2011.
“I hope they feel really good,” Bailey said. “It’s my way to give back to the community.”
