Skip to content

Hairdressers upcycle brushes for vulnerable women

Louise ParryBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
News imageKerry Galliano Kerry smiles at the camera while holding the plastic bag containing a brush and two smaller bottles. She stands in front of a white wall with dark green image of a leaf and the word STUDIO behind her. She has chin length wavy blonde hair and wears a blue blouse.Kerry Galliano
Eversholt hairdresser Kerry creates care packs of beauty products and repurposed hairbrushes

A pair of hairdressers say they are delighted their scheme providing brushes to vulnerable women is taking off nationally.

Kerry Galliano, from Eversholt in Bedfordshire, and Janie Tongue from Shrewsbury, started a scheme called Shine Together.

They collect and thoroughly clean unwanted hairbrushes from clients, before donating them to women's centres and refuges.

Kerry, 53, said: "Just by doing your hair, it gives that sense of normality, when women might not even have minutes to pack."

She said it had been "a right eye opener" to learn more about women fleeing domestic violence.

"The last thing they'll think about is a hairbrush; they might not even have time to grab ID or money," she said.

News imageKerry Galliano A group of 12 women standing together arm in arm smiling at the camera. They wear pink or green lanyards.Kerry Galliano
Hairdressers from Bedfordshire and beyond volunteered their services at the Milton Keynes Women's Centre

Ashlee Ellis manages the C2C Milton Keynes Women's Centre, and said receiving the packs was "amazing".

They have 350 visits a month, supporting women with anything from housing and the criminal justice system to coping with a violent partner.

"The hairbrushes have really helped. It's a way for women to feel they're taking care of themselves during a difficult situation," she said.

Kerry, Janie and several other hairdressers also ran a salon session for 30 of the women for International Women's Day.

"It was honestly incredible," said Ashlee.

"For a lot of women who come to us, having a haircut is not a top priority for their spending. Getting through day by day is their priority.

"It was so nice to see them being thoroughly pampered - it made them feel good about themselves."

News imageKerry Galliano A see-through plastic packet containing a round hairbrush and two Baylis & Harding bathroom bottles. A green label says Kerry Galliano
All the donated brushes are given a deep clean and packaged up with some other beauty products

Kerry dreamed up Shine Together after chatting with a client about how many people had unused hairbrushes.

They ensure the donated brushes are "totally sanitised" with a "five-star cleansing routine"," she says.

The initiative is now being picked up by hairdressers elsewhere, including in Newcastle, Birmingham, London and Bournemouth.

"I'm just so proud of everybody helping other women in need. It's local women supporting local women," Kerry added.

News imageJanie Tongue A headshot selfie of Janie, who smiles at the camera. She wears pink lipstick and has dark blonde, long wavy hair.Janie Tongue
Janie from Shrewsbury supports other hairdressers to deliver and promote the scheme

Janie says Shine Together "represents the very best of our industry — compassion, collaboration, and a genuine desire to make a difference".

"Supporting women in shelters and safe houses through care, confidence, and connection is incredibly powerful."

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.