“My mom was a single mom and since we were a small family, we spent lots of holidays passing out food or toys at homeless shelters or food banks instead of at giant family parties.” – NIcoletta Gauci
So often in life, we think of giving back as tasks that fit in a tiny, structured box. Either giving large sums of money or volunteering for a local shelter or food bank. The reality is there are thousands of ways to give back. And there is no right or wrong way to do it.
Often, the small, humble acts of kindness are the ones that go the farthest. Acts like cutting and/or coloring someone’s hair to restore confidence and ultimately changes someone’s life for the better. As this week’s #WCW Spotlight, Nicoletta Gauci shares how how she is paying it forward by offering donation based hair cuts and/or color for those who need to make their dollar stretch a bit farther.
Me: What inspired you to pursue a career in the hair industry?
Nicoletta: I went to art school and once I was done I realize I had no idea what I wanted to be and how I wanted to actually make a living. My mom told me it was a job or back to school (I was crashing with her), so I got a part time job with Greenpeace and went to cosmetology school. Honestly – completely random.
Me: Is there a stereotype of hair industry professionals that you’d like to be a part of redefining over the course of your career?
Nicoletta: We are seen as a little ditsy, unreliable and vain. I have my space cadet moments (I’m a new mom and run my own business); however, successful beauty industry professionals have to have brains, beauty, and skill. We are artists but we also are business owners, our goal should be to combine making money, making clients happy, and expressing our talent.
Me: How did you come up with the idea to reserve one day a month to offer your services for whatever people could afford to donate?
Nicoletta: I had a challenging week…month…ok few months since taking the leap and moving back out to Los Angeles. I got some amazing support and would NOT have made it through without it. I wanted to pay that back in a way I could, since donating money wasn’t an option, I thought I would donate time and skill. I ask for a minimum donation so I can cover my booth rental for the day – thats all. 🙂
Me: What has been the reaction from peers and friends, since you put your idea of donation based services once a month?
Nicoletta: They have loved it! A few have started their own at their salon/their cities. I am hopefully teaming up with another salon so I can host there and not pay rent making, the minimum donation a non issue!
Me: You’ve been incredibly generous in not limiting your offer to a cut or styling, but offering colors, highlights, and color corrections as well; all based on what people could afford to donate. What motivated you to be so overly generous with your talents?
Nicoletta: Sometimes people go to a salon and pay $300, they save up for this visit they look forward to it, and then they get disappointed. It is hard walking around not loving your hair, I’ve been there. It affects your whole mood. I work on a case by case basis, so this is not for the person who wants a $500 service for free. This is for the person who really needs their hair fixed/done and I can work with them on pricing. I recently had a girl who got her hair totally wrecked and spent $300; she needs regular conditioning treatments before we can do anything. SO I’m doing those on a donation basis leading up to her color which she is paying for.
Me: Has giving back and philanthropy always been a theme in your life? Or is it something that has developed later in life?
Nicoletta: I’ve always had an interest in it. My mom was a single mom and since we were a small family, we spent lots of holidays passing out food or toys at homeless shelters or food banks instead of at giant family parties. She didn’t have the money to give back, but she still donated to wildlife organizations and gave back time whenever she could. That stuck with me.
Me: August 10th was your first donation based hair cut/ color/ treatment day. How did that go? What do you want to grow and make better for your next date in September?
Nicoletta: I realize I can’t do one day a month. It is super limiting for people and I want this to work. So now I work on a per case basis. I ask for private emails or message with a general idea of what is going on. A picture of your hair now and what you would like it to look like. I then let you know what my typical pricing is and if I think this is a one visit situation or multiple. Then you let me know what you can afford, I try to just cover my overhead. It is hugely trust based but I haven’t had an issue so far. I now fill these appointments into my open slots.
Me: What has been the most surprising part of this journey? The most inspiring part?
Nicoletta: Its amazing how many more services and visits you get when your pricing fits someones budget…its amazing to see them shine and get that job…or that boyfriend…or girlfriend. Then they book their next appointment with you and they seem totally different. I love it.
Me: Since you’ve become a mother, have you noticed any changes in your philosophy and choices, given your place in the beauty and fashion industry? Especially being the mother of a girl?
Nicoletta: Yes and no. I was (am) lucky and have a mom who taught me that you didn’t need much makeup or product to look and feel beautiful. I went through stages of heavy makeup and crazy hair and now I personally like a more natural approach, with the occasional fun thrown in. For my daughter? I just want her to feel good in her own skin, whatever that may mean to her.
I will say that I have become much more aware of the ingredients in the products I am using. I look on the EWG site for product ratings and look at the impact they are having on peoples bodies and the world as a whole. I would love to see a shift of consciousness where the “organic” products are the NORM and the chemical/toxin/dioxin filled ones are labeled as such!’
Me: What is the one piece of advice you would share with others who want to follow in your footsteps of using their talents and unique life experiences to give back?
Nicoletta:
1) Do what makes you happy
2) Spend time making other people happy
3) Forget about all the rest
Keep up with Nicolletta on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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