Free Hair Care Service at Texas Children's Now Located in West Tower

At Texas Children's Hospital, a simple haircut provides much more than the latest style.

To meet patients' hair care needs during extended stays away from home, Texas Children's recently opened a new hair salon to house the hair care services provided by Fantastic Sams at the hospital for more than 10 years. The new salon is located within Texas Children's new West Tower.

Besides providing free hair care services, it the program provides a touch of "everyday life" for kids whose lives are anything but ordinary. Now the hair care program has a new home within the bright and cheerfully decorated salon.

"We appreciate having a hair care service within the hospital because its convenience to children and parents is a welcome amenity," said David Matthews, media specialist at Texas Children's Hospital. "When patients need to stay for an extended period of time, getting a haircut provides the children with a sense of home and routine that is important."

The Texas Children's salon, sponsored by Fantastic Sams, provides shampoos, haircuts or styling for children and their parents. For patients unable to leave their beds, Patricia Conners, the salon's stylist, even makes "room calls" to ensure every child's needs are met.

Conners, a Fantastic Sams employee, never thought she would work in a hospital, but when asked to serve at Texas Children's, Conners knew the job fit her perfectly.

Her love for children and interest in making a positive impact matched the qualities needed for working in a sensitive hospital environment.

Over the past two years, Connors has not only handled patients' hair care needs, but has also uplifted many children's lives through her friendly attitude and welcome companionship.

"My job here is much more than just cutting hair - I want to be a friend," said Conners. "The salon has become a central gathering location for children and teenagers wanting to spend time with others away from their rooms and socialize with each other."

Because a hospital stay is never glamorous, a simple haircut can make all the difference in a patient's day.

The celebration of the salon's grand opening took place July 25, when Texas Children's patient André Edwards received the first haircut in the new salon. Patients, hospital staff and Fantastic Sams owners from throughout the Houston area were in attendance.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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