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.
When Brittany Starks offered to braid the hair of a few kids on their way back to school for free, she had no idea how great the need for her services would be. How this once homeless mother is giving back ? https://t.co/8iEmKtdy4z pic.twitter.com/TCXQcMNZu7
— Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) August 19, 2021
2/5 Parents and guardians all over Nashville have reached out to Brittany on social media, asking for her help. There was so much demand that she’s enlisted other braiders to donate their time — and it is a lot of time. pic.twitter.com/feAbr54esO
— Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) August 19, 2021
4/5 Braiding can take a physical toll. “Sometimes your back hurts, your legs hurt, your hands hurt, your feet hurt, ” Brittany said. But she pushes through and continues for the kids. pic.twitter.com/zOyD86ASp7
— Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) August 19, 2021
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.
