Katie Steller, a professional hairstylist, took the initiative to make the people who are on the edge of their lives to look good to feel good. She listens to the stories of the people facing any losses, struggles, addictions, and problems to get back on their feet. She understands that a small act like a haircut can genuinely change anyone’s life as her own life was changed after one professional haircut.
The story of Katie Steller
During her teen, Katie suffered a severe bowel disease called ulcerative colitis. The result of this disease was that her hair got thinned drastically. After this, her mother arranged for her first-ever professional haircut session. The only thing that created a difference was that the professional artist considered her as an average person and someone who is facing an illness. This made her feel cared about and a little less alone than before.
This session made her feel that she wanted to own a salon of her own; so that she can help the people in the same way her hairstylist supported her. After completing her studies in a cosmetology school in 2009, she began the Red Chair Project to reach out to the people on the streets.
Katie has given 30 or more haircuts to the people around the city. Her clients are the people who are living on the margin. She understands the power of her clean-up task as she not only give them a good look but also becomes a friend to them with whom they can share their problems and happiness. She built relationships with her clients so that they have someone to share their issues.
She says that a part of her heartbreaks to see how lonely are the people around her. She urged to go around all the places in the city and asked if people are willing to get a free haircut. By this, she feels that even if she can’t fix their problems, she might at least make them feel a little less lonely for that moment.
The Red Chair Project
The project has another aspect; it is like a Kindness Project, in which people from Canada who commit acts of kindness can come for a free makeover at Katie’s salon. She learns about their stories in exchange for the makeover, and later she posts those stories on her website. She posts them in the hope that others might get inspired by the kind acts of the people.
This project began with the belief that a simple act of kindness, be it a free haircut or anything else; it can make the world a better and more lovable place. You might not even know that with a little support from your side can change the life of the other person to a great extent. Thus, never leave a chance to show kindness to the people without expecting anything
