Cut, colour & connection: A fresh new look for women experiencing homelessness

Taking time for a haircut is often a luxury, or sometimes an annoying job to be crossed off the personal maintenance list. A new hairstyle can

 provide a confidence boost and time at the salon can be an opportunity to take time for yourself, relax and practice self-care. It can also be an opportunity for social connection.  

For women experiencing homelessness, often these moments get left behind as they focus on finding secure accommodation. Many of the residents of McAuley House Footscray haven’t had the opportunity to go to a hair salon in months, or even years – some have never been to one in their lifetime. 

Thanks to the generosity of Gabby Allsop, founder of Parental Advisory Hair in Collingwood, residents at McAuley House Footscray were given the full salon experience, complete with cuts, colours, chats and a lot of cups of coffee.  

“The whole experience was amazing and very relaxing. Everyone was very welcoming and down to earth. They listened and treated me wi

th respect,” one woman reflected.  

All day, the salon was filled with lively energy, laughter and connection from the women and hairdressers alike; one of the women joked about being too short for the basin.  

“This is my first time in a salon,” she said. “It’s unbelievable! I have so many foils in my hair I look like a satellite. But I feel like a million bucks!” 

Gabby says that when it comes to hair, “a little sparkle goes a long way.” 

One woman took the opportunity to dye her hair for the first time, going from her natural colour to a vivid red.  

“This experience means a lot to me,” she said. “I’m going through a big transformation in my life so having the opportunity to change my hair is a symbol of this, helping me to manifest change and bring power to myself. I’m just so grateful to be touched by so much kindness.” 

McAuley’s Social Inclusion Worker, Brydie, says social connections and links to community are vital for people experiencing homelessness to get back on track. 

“When you become homeless you can lose so many things – not just a physical home, but connections with friends, family and community, and you also miss out on the regular activities that most people take for granted. Doing simple things like going to the hairdresser and having a chat can really help with wellbeing and self-esteem,” says Brydie.

Gabby first came across McAuley in 2023 when she was looking to a host a fundraiser called ‘Creative Ways to Help.’  

“I asked a few of my friends in social work jobs who they would recommend and showed the list that I had made from my own research and McAuley kept being mentioned as a brilliant place to partner with!”  

She has been working as a hairdresser for over 18 years, but her upbringing remains a driving force behind helping women experiencing violence and homelessness.  

“I grew up in similar circumstances and it’s taken me a long time to decide whether I am deserving of more than the cards I was dealt; I think we all war with this question every day,” Gabby says.  

“I’m hoping that using my own challenging childhood for purpose – and sharing everything I have worked for with people brave enough to take the risk and ask for help – will result in the people we connect with paying it forward in their own way as well.”  

At the end of the day, the women say they walked out of the salon feeling confident and grateful to the entire team.  

“It was a nice environment with lots of nice people,” says one. “Everyone was very welcoming and accommodating. I am so thankful to the team.” 

This was the second time Gabby hosted ‘Ladies Day’ for McAuley residents, with the first being in 2024 at a salon in Footscray, and she has big plans for future sessions.  

“We’re still learning how to make it a better experience with limited hairdressers and help but the plan is to make these bigger and better every session.” 

Gabby is currently funding this event out of her own pocket, with all the hairdressers generously volunteering their time and expertise, but she is hoping to get more sponsors to provide food and hair products and spreading the word to other salons to find more volunteer hairdressers.  

“We can’t eliminate family violence or homelessness overnight, but we can strengthen the bonds of community and communication, so no one has to be alone in it.”