Get a Trim, Give a Trim

Backpack? Check.
Pencils? Check.
Folders? Check.
Haircut? ...

In the back to school hustle and bustle, it might be easy to forget a trim for your kids, but hopes its special Share A Haircut program will help. From Aug. 1 through Aug. 15, a back to school haircut at will benefit not only the one with the locks, but a child who may not have a lot; for every haircut paid for, staff will give a free one to a less fortunate child under the age of 18. More than 100 Hair Cuttery salons across Chicago will participate.

Each time a haircut is given, a special code is calculated, and from those codes, the number of coupons needed will be tallied. Local social security agencies will receive the coupons for the children, and will distribute them. The coupons are free till the end of the year.

Diane Daly, Hair Cuttey spokesperson, said that the program began 12 years ago from the ideas of the chain's stylists.

"They were anxious to do a program, and they saw the connection between back-to-school haircuts and their services. It's their program," said Daly. "The whole idea of getting spruced up with new backpacks, supplies, shoes ... haircuts make a kid feel confident about the way they look."

Since its inception, the program has given 560,000 haircuts and expects to add 60,000 to that this year. 

"You're gonna have your kid come in for a haircut anyway," said Daly. "Why not instill the 'kid helping a kid' message?"