Revive Hair Care Program

Every day, there are young girls in foster care waking up without knowing the proper way to style their hair — their crown. Each day, they wonder how to properly use hair styling tools; what products are the best for their hair type; what styles best suit them for the day or occasion. But mostly, they wonder, “Will I be defined today by what my hair looks like?”

Our Hair Care program started because we watched firsthand as minority children at local shelters and group homes failed to receive the haircare they desperately needed and deserved. While their roommates received haircuts, blowouts and bang trims from visiting stylists, African American and biracial youth were, time and time again, completely, and wholly left out of the conversation.

It’s well-known that children of color are disproportionately represented in the foster care system, and in Wisconsin alone, Black/African American and Native American families are overrepresented in OHC. Black/African American children comprise 33.3% of the out of home care population, but account for only 11.4% of Wisconsin’s child population. However, despite this overrepresentation, African-American foster children are typically the last to receive the hair and skin care they need and deserve.

Some might say it’s “just hair.” But it’s not “just hair.” Because studies show that for African-American youth, particularly girls, hair and hair care are critical areas of connection to culture as well as socialization and support, shaping their long-term vision of who they are. When this basic need is not met, African-American foster youth may also be viewed as “less adoptable” by potential adoptive families and, as a result, suffer from devastating circumstances such as homelessness.

Revive Youth, Inc. believes that all youth deserve to have their basic needs met and is proud to offer our Hair Care program, which pairs incredible local stylists who regularly work with textured hair with youth in care who are desperately in need of their services. Stylists are fully and generously paid for their time and talent.

In addition, every quarter Revive Youth, Inc. will deliver Hair Care Packages to youth living in group homes. The packages includes a reusable tote that contains instructions on healthy hair care, with essential items like shampoo, conditioner, sleeping bonnet, gel, comb and brush.

How you can help:

For $200, you can “sponsor a style” for a child or teen in foster care who is in need of hair-care services. Your donation includes full payment and tip for the stylist who performs the service – which typically takes 3+ hours at minimum — as well as a hair kit for the child or teen in care that will include items such as a bonnet, edge comb, gel, oil, shampoo and conditioner appropriate for African-American and biracial youths in care.

For $50, you can sponsor a hair care kit which includes a reusable tote that contains instructions on healthy hair care, with essential items like shampoo, conditioner, sleeping bonnet, gel, comb and brush.