Lynn salons, barber shops to compete for top prize in city

LYNN – Saturday at St. Michael?s Hall will be the first ever battle of the salons and barbers hair shows.?It?s going to be very exciting,” Pamela Burton, executive director of Saving Our Souls Foundation, said.Twelve salons and barber shops from Lynn will compete to win the coveted title of best salon/barber shop. There will be a fashion show where each salon shows two or three different hair styles followed by a presentation. All the salons represent different nationalities to bring “unity in the community.”?I wanted something different. Something that would capture people?s attention,” Burton said. “This has never been done before so I thought this would be perfect.”All the proceeds of the event go to the Saving Our Souls Foundation (SOS) and their programs. SOS is a faith-based organization that provides communities with quality programs, participation and education focusing on anti-violence and gang-related issues. The goal of SOS programs is to stop the violence among the youth and provide them with healthy, productive and meaningful lives.To have the event bring different walks of life together is very important to the organization.?We reach out to troubled youth and help them get their lives together,” Burton said. “Troubled youth comes from all different backgrounds and colors.”?The community needs to come together as one before we can help these kids,” Burton added.It was a cause many of the surrounding salons could get behind.?Lynn is such a small city but in a lot of ways it is still very divided. It shouldn?t be like that. This helps puts a stop to that,” Amy Drinan of Jack and Jill Hair Salon said. “When I heard about this event I got right on it. I knew I had to be involved somehow.”The money raised will go to get SOS their own office. Currently, they reside in Burton?s house on Hurd Street.?We need a bigger space to make our programs come alive,” she said.SOS formed two years ago.Many are excited about the first event in Lynn surrounding hair style.?There has never been an event like this here in our industry. It should be a fun night,” Drinan said. “I?m excited to see how it all comes together and turns out.”Burton is already planning next year?s event.?It?s going to be an annual event. People are so excited about it. I?m still getting calls from people who want to be involved somehow,” she said.Battle of the salons and barbers hair shows will be this Saturday at St. Michael?s Hall on 25 Elmwood Ave. in Lynn at 7 p.m. The event will last to 10 p.m. and tickets at the door cost $10. For more information call 781-913-0860Sara Brown can be reached at [email protected].