Before our doors opened May 2, 2005, I knew that one service in particular would be the hardest on everyone was going to be shaving women’s hair.  We decided to make it as comfortable, respectful and easy as we could.   At Compassionate Beauty the service takes place in a private room with dimmed lights, flickering candles and soothing music playing.

For some it is a solo event, for others, family members offer support, and for a few, it is cause
for parties with lemonade (when life gives you lemons, make lemonade) and wine. While little can change the most devastating side effect of chemotherapy, hair loss we decided to call it the Loving Head Shave, and follow it with a scalp massage in essence, easing our clients into their new reality in comfort.

My mother and I spent many hours together when we first opened the doors.  She would sit and keep me company while few people knew about Compassionate Beauty.  Each day you could see the pain in her eyes as she watched ladies come and go.  One day a women stopped to give me a thank you hug, she smiled with tears in her eyes and said “Thank you so much for being here”.

It was then that my mom understood the dream and the worthwhile goal to build Compassionate Beauty. For my number one fan, my mom, had finally seen the blessing it is trying to make a difference and to help someone with cancer

To say it was the hardest day of Compassionate Beauty’s history would be a lie. Unfortunately we have had many hard days, days where the disease wins and we lose someone special, someone’s whose smile and courage touched our souls.

You see, that’s the thing at Compassionate Beauty.  We opened our doors because unfortunately there is a huge need for our products and services.  We open our hearts because we “get” how unfair life just got, and we get to know ourselves even more as we share the path of many.

–  Saundra Shapiro