NC students give a gift of makeup and hairstyling this holiday season

On Dec. 6, Students in NC’s Hairstyling program donated their time and talents to residents of the Extended Care Unit at the Welland Hospital in preparation for their annual Christmas pictures.

Emma Lanctot, Victoria Newburgh, Grace Manco, Ashley Bullock, Laura Pembleton styled hair and applied makeup for over 90 residents. Residents received services anywhere from curled hair to quick make up touch ups before their picture was taken.

“The students needed to get creative in how they styled some of the residents hair as some were in wheel chairs and they had to work around different obstacles that they might not otherwise be use to working with,” said Brittany Hudak, Hairstyling professor. “The students had the opportunity to give back to the community which is something we always promote in our program here in the hairstyling department.”

When Hudak was approached by the manager at the facility asking if NC students would help out with this event, she jumped at the opportunity to give her students real world experience while giving back to the community during the holiday season.

“I wanted to volunteer to this event to give back to the community and to brighten the patients’ day and their families. I feel if you have a talent to share you should, especially at this time of the holiday season and put a smile on other people’s faces,” said Laura Pembleton, a Hairstyling student. “This was a great experience for me to practice my skills I learned in school and to interact with others.”

While this is the first time NC’s Hairstyling class has worked with the Extended Care Unit, Hudak says this event will remain on her radar as a volunteer opportunity next year.