Beauty in Crisis: Funding, Support, and Safety During the LA Fires
Los Angeles is no stranger to wildfires, but this time, it's different.
In the City of Angels, one of the most devastating fires in recent history has destroyed over 12,300 structures, including homes, businesses, and livelihoods. The toll is unimaginable, and while the affected areas will eventually rebuild, the journey is never easy for those impacted.
As members of both the beauty industry and the climate solutions community, we felt compelled to create this article for several reasons:
To highlight beauty professionals who are stepping up to support their communities during this crisis.
To provide resources for beauty professionals and makeup artists displaced by the fires.
To share tips and tools for protecting yourself during wildfire events.
Our goal is to empower beauty industry professionals while offering meaningful support to the LA community. In moments of crisis, grassroots efforts often prove to be the most effective way to navigate climate disasters.
Please utilize these efforts to support LA or send to friends who might need this!
Beauty Professional Grassroot Efforts
“Los Angeles Salons Offering Free Services to Wildfire Evacuees and First Responders”
Aware Hair and Stylists of LA have put together a map and spreadsheet of salons around California and in unaffected areas in LA that are offering services to emergency providers and people displaced by the fire.
As stated on the website: “Please check each salon's social media pages for the most current information, as service offerings may change. They recommend contacting the salons directly first through DM or phone before visiting, unless otherwise stated.”
If you’re a salon that is offering services to support victims and emergency support, fill out their form here to be added to their database.
You can also check stylistsofla’s instagram page for most current updates.
“BraidHouse Supporting the Black Community”
BraidHouse said it best, Black Women’s hair needs are often overlooked during disaster relief efforts. Hair supplies such as wigs, extensions, and other haircare supplies are expensive - especially building back up your kit!
They are offering:
Free protective styling services for wildfire victims
Complimentary wigs and personal care supplies
Emergency station access for displaced braiders
Resource hub & community support
Send them a DM through their IG page to claim any of these offers if you are in need.
They also have a spreadsheet of fire victims that you can help directly through GoFundMe, you can donate to them directly.
“Backpack Donation Drive through Beauty Partnerships for Children”
Hairstylist (AnaBelle Ruiz), celebrity groomer (Andrea Pezzillo), and celebrity makeup artist (Cherish Brooke Hill) worked together with Union Salon to put together and distribute backpacks with school supplies and snacks for children who have lost their belongings in the fires.
You can drop off supplies such as pencils/pens, notebooks/journals, markers/crayons, pencil pushes, small stuffies, books, justice boxes, and water bottles at Union Salon from January 11th - 18th. The distribution of these packs will be on January 18th.
Rebuilding Resources for LA Beauty Pros
“Donate to Beauty Pros Directly”
Sometimes waiting for funds takes a long time, especially with insurance and government funded aid. Cherilyn Rachelle put together a spreadsheet of hairstylists that have lost everything and are in need of relief quickly.
“Pro Beauty Association Disaster Relief Fund”
The Pro Beauty Association has been at the forefront of supporting beauty professionals since the beginning. The Disaster Relief Fund is for displaced professionals who need to rebuild after a climate disaster. This is a fund that professionals can apply for and others can to donate to.
“Spa and Salon Relief Fund”
Another fund opportunity for salons and spas, the Spa and Salon Relief Fund has been supporting these independent businesses since 2005. Professionals can also apply and others can donate to it.
“IATSE Local 706: Hairstylists, Makeup Artists, Theme Park LA Union”
The Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Guild is focused on helping their members and friends of members by offering an array of resources to the fire victims, funding opportunities, and on-call assistance.
Here is some of what they offer
“Project Kit Rescue”
Grishan Roof (known as @depotchopra) launched Project Kit Rescue to help makeup artists and hairstylists rebuild their kits that they’ve lost to the fires. They are accepting donations (physical and financial) to help get these artists back on their feet, please check the post to get their Venmo information and their address to send these items.
If your kit has been affected by the fires, please fill out the form below
“List of Brands Offering Relief”
Thank you to the brands that are offering hair and makeup products to beauty professionals that lost their supplies in the fires; the complete list includes OLAPLEX, Joico, K18, and so many others. Thank you to BEHIND THE CHAIR for creating this and updating this!
“Artist On Go Salon Spaces”
Artist On Go works with salons who are renting empty spaces in their salons. They are collaborating with their LA salons to help give stylists temporary homes.
Contact Mike at 646-846-1636
“Keep Up With Current LA Fire News in the Industry with The Tease”
I want to personally thank The Tease for staying on top of LA news and sharing resources from larger organizations to grassroots.
I would highly suggest following them/their LA stories from their IG.
Fire Support for LA Citizens
“Mutual Aid LA”
There are so many aspects to fighting this destruction together, it takes a village. Mutual Aid LA are on the ground as well as updating current resources of opportunities for fire victims as well as ways that others can get involved to help. You can follow their IG and their working spreadsheet for updated resources and send it to others.
“LA Community Fridges”
With the help of Mutual Aid LA, these community fridges are spread around LA to give a helping hand to those who need food. The mission is simple - support those who need it.
You can find these fridges on the map below:
“How To Pack a Disaster Bag”
This is the hardest conversation of all, you should always be ready for a natural disaster and have a Disaster Bag in case of emergencies. Yes, the vulnerable places like the coastal cities should be prepared, but even if you're not, this is good information to learn in case you or a loved one is in this situation.
You can learn how to pack one below:
“How to Keep Yourself Safe During a Wildfire”
Drier conditions = higher risk for fire. Fireworks, untended campfires, and gender reveal parties have all started unprecedented fires. It's why we have Smokey the Bear to educate about fire safety.
If a fire should happen near you, look at how you can keep yourself and family safe below:
This is, unfortunately, the start to some very interesting changes on how we will live our life. With climate change comes unpredictable, stronger, and abnormal natural disasters. But there is so much we can do to prepare ourselves for future climate disasters… and that’s creating strong community.
Grassroots organizations have been in the spotlight more than ever. Thanks to social media and the internet, it makes spreading news, asking for help, and offering help a lot faster and easier. This kind of organizing is essential to support local communities in the midst of devastation because government grants can take a long time to receive, insurance has become unreliable, and future funding from FEMA may fall short (tell your representative to continue supporting increasing the FEMA fund).
Be careful out there, we’re here for you, love you.