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Riverview Salon Makeovers Benefit Domestic Violence Victims

News Channel 8 photo by INDIRA LEVINE

Hairstylists at Riverview’s New Identities Hair Studio, gave free makeovers to raise self esteem and the spirits of women staying in local shelters Sunday. The store’s Tampa Palms shop hosted a similar event Monday.

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2009

RIVERVIEW - RIVERVIEW - New Identities Hair Studios hosted its Fifth Annual Valentine's Day Makeover Event Sunday, donating haircuts and facial makeovers to victims of domestic violence.

Laurie Kepler, executive director of the Mary and Martha House, a Ruskin shelter for battered women and their children, said the makeovers where more than skin deep for the women.
"I think part of reason some women come here is lack of self esteem, so having a makeover and having themselves being pampered really made a big difference to them," Kepler said.

"We feed them and pamper them," said shop chief executive officer Mark Rockquemore.

The South Shore shop, 10639 Big Bend Road, Riverview, welcomed the ladies on Sunday. The salon's Tampa Palms shop, 15307 Amberly Drive, also plans to host a similar event.

Residents of The Spring of Tampa Bay and Alpha House of Tampa participated in the makeovers.

Stonewood Tavern & Grill provided food in Tampa Palms with Buffalo Wild Wings and Panera Bread taking care of the menu in Riverview.

"A lot of times they arrive in the middle of night at these shelters, with just the clothes on their backs," Rockquemore said.

"When they get to the event, a lot of times, they can't even look at you. They have no self esteem. We try to make them up and beautify them, even teach them how to do their own makeup," he said.

Additionally, the salons sent emails to all their clients with wish lists for items the women and their children could use.

"It's truly one of the most rewarding things we do here and my entire staff looks forward to it each year," Rockquemore said.

"It was fabulous," said Jan Falcione, community resource manager for the Mary and Martha House. "Some of the ladies were a little reluctant at first but the difference was amazing. If you are down and out the last thing you can do is go out and pamper yourself. That is the first thing that goes," Falcione said. "You could just see afterwards that (the women who had the makeovers) were just glowing."

TBO.com community producer Kevin Brady contributed to this story.

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