Photo courtesy of Inside Edition/ Twitter.
According to NPR, Brittany Starks, a mother of two in Nashville, Tenn., offered to braid children’s hair for free before the first day of school. Starks wanted to contribute to the community by helping parents avoid the stress of getting their kids ready for going back to school by giving free hair braiding.
It all started with a Facebook post where Starks offered to help out parents needing their child’s hair braided for free. She started out doing the hair for around seven kids, but people from all over Nashville were requesting her help before she knew it. One woman was staying in a hotel with her five children, and Sparks said she met several people desperately in need, and she said she could not say no.
Starks recruited a team of volunteers, and together, they braid children’s hair in salons, churches and homes of people who’ve volunteered space. Starks and the other volunteers spend hours braiding
hair for free and save the children’s parents significant time and money. Some styles require several hours and would cost hundreds of dollars in a salon.
Starks spoke to Inside Edition about her free hair braiding service and said she was surprised by the demand but couldn’t stop. Besides the tremendous relief her service provides parents, it also helps the kids feel confident going to school looking good.
“It boosts confidence. Some kids, they came in, they weren’t smiling, they weren’t talking, and then, you know, as they get their hair braided, they start opening up a little more and then when they’re done, they’re just smiling and so happy. It’s a great thing to see.”
“It’s been very hard. I haven’t gotten any sleep. I’ve been extremely tired, but it’s very worth it,” she said. “I feel like I’m doing it for a good cause.”
Starks and the volunteers now dedicate their Saturdays for free hair braiding. They now have a GoFundMe to help with the expense of hair products and have raised around $19,000, $4,000 more than the amount requested.