Beauty warriors

~Local salons raise money and awareness for breast cancer research

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many beauty experts have planned special events and fundraisers for cancer research -- because every woman, including breast cancer patients, deserves to feel beautiful.

"They lose their hair and eyelashes and eyebrows -- the things that make them feel secure, that make their face presentable to the world," says Betsy Stace of Carbondale, Ill., a cosmetologist who volunteers with the American Cancer Society's "Look Good Feel Better" program. Cancer also wreaks havoc on patients' skin and nails, making them sensitive, prone to rashes, and unable to tolerate even nail polish, Stace says. The ACS coordinates with local hospitals and cosmetologists who teach patients how to use new makeup, select wigs or turbans, style their wigs and care for regrowing hair.

Patrons enjoy the refreshments during the Rise Above with Love event on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2010. Belladona Salon partnered with Southeast Missouri Hospital for the event to promote breast cancer awareness, by providing free salon services for breast cancer survivors, giveaways, makeup demos, and donating proceeds from the sale of a special lip gloss to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. (Kristin Eberts)

"I teach them how to feel pretty ... and that means that they have something to look forward to," says Stace. "I enjoy the fact that I can go into a room with women I've never met and make them smile, and they smile from the inside out."

According to Sheri House, community manager for health initiatives at the American Cancer Society in Cape Girardeau, "Look Good Feel Better" programs are available for men and teens, as well.

On Oct. 14, Heartland Plastic and Hand Surgery hosted its annual "Evening of Glamour and Beauty" for current and former patients, and this year's theme was breast cancer awareness. According to cosmetic consultant Anna Phelps, about 98 percent of Heartland's patients are female, and the practice does a number of breast reconstructions. Heartland surgeons and other local vendors were available to discuss plastic surgery, skin care procedures, teeth whitening, vision care, health and fitness and more.

Chantal Jamieson checks out the makeup work done by Belladona employee John Paul Long, right, during the Rise Above with Love event on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2010. Belladona Salon partnered with Southeast Missouri Hospital for the event to promote breast cancer awareness, by providing free salon services for breast cancer survivors, giveaways, makeup demos, and donating proceeds from the sale of a special lip gloss to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. (Kristin Eberts)

Local salons have also used their beauty expertise for breast cancer awareness this month.

"We see so many women every single day. Breast cancer is not picky. It touches everyone all over world," says Danea Johnson, owner of Concepts Styling Salon in Cape Girardeau. Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and also the salon's fourth anniversary, Johnson held a beauty event Oct. 7, with 10 percent of the day's sales donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The salon also sold Susan G. Komen t-shirts, gave out free gifts with purchases, and offered complimentary food, beverages and makeup demonstrations. Candy Coburn -- a national recording artist who wrote the song "Pink Warrior" for Susan G. Komen for the Cure -- even sent a makeup case, CD and T-shirt to give away at Concepts' event.

"The true story is that when I opened the salon I knew I wanted to use the salon as a voice for nonprofits and for community projects," says Johnson, who's organized other beauty events for breast cancer, as well as for Heart for Africa and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "It's a philosophy of mine to put philanthropy first and foremost in a business. I think part of why we're successful is that we've given back to the community and the people who need it."

Michelle Wagster gets her hair cut by Belladona employee Joseph West during the Rise Above with Love event on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2010. Wagster lost her aunt to breast cancer and her mom and sister are breast cancer survivors. Belladona Salon partnered with Southeast Missouri Hospital for the event to promote breast cancer awareness, by providing free salon services for breast cancer survivors, giveaways, makeup demos, and donating proceeds from the sale of a special lip gloss to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. (Kristin Eberts)

Elements of Bella Salon in Cape Girardeau is offering pink extensions and thread wraps for hair and pink breast cancer ribbons for nails in exchange for a $10 donation. All money raised from these services will go to the Turning Point breast cancer support group at Southeast Missouri Hospital, says Elements stylist Kelley Callow. Fellow stylist Cammie Seabaugh's family has been touched by breast cancer, and so have many of the salon's clients, says Callow.

"We wanted to get involved in a charity event that we could do year after year," she says. "It actually works out really good because we're all girls and we put pink in our hair, too."

On Oct. 14, Belladona Salon Spa and Boutique partnered with Southeast Missouri Hospital to host a "Rise Above with Love" breast cancer awareness event sponsored by Jane Iredale cosmetics. According to Linda Springs, co-owner of Belladona, Jane Iredale chooses top-performing salons to host the annual fundraiser, and Belladona was the only one chosen from the Midwest this year.

Chantal Jamieson gets her makeup done by Belladona employee John Paul Long during the Rise Above with Love event on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2010. Belladona Salon partnered with Southeast Missouri Hospital for the event to promote breast cancer awareness, by providing free salon services for breast cancer survivors, giveaways, makeup demos, and donating proceeds from the sale of a special lip gloss to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. (Kristin Eberts)

Belladona staff members volunteered their time to give free beauty treatments, including massages, manicures, pedicures and facials, to the first 150 women who came to the salon that day, plus makeovers for breast cancer patients and survivors. The salon also gave out refreshments, coupons and giveaways, while Jane Iredale's professional makeup artists offered makeup demonstrations and applications, and representatives from Southeast Missouri Hospital were on-hand to discuss breast cancer and pass out information. The salon sold a special pink lip gloss -- Jane Iredale's Sugar and Butter Lip Exfoliator and Plumper in Phoenix -- with $2 of the purchase donated to Living Beyond Breast Cancer.

"We all as women need to celebrate. We just want to come together to strengthen and celebrate the women in our lives," says Springs.