Head Sprung helps spread the love across America

Head Sprung Hair Studio is participating in Matrix professional hair care company’s innovative Spread the Love initiative.

Head Sprung salon is one of 51 salons chosen - one per state and the District of Columbia - to take part in the program.

“The objective is to unite our industry - not one product line, not one salon, but to bring us together to make change in our communities,” said Kevin Harris, Head Sprung Hair Studio owner.

Spreading the love are teams made up of recent beauty school graduates who were selected after a national competition.

They are touring the country and using social and electronic media to share their experiences.

Sam Ritter of Shreveport, La., and Joe Pickering of Bloomington, Ill., are one of six two-member teams who have been on the road since Jan. 27, traveling nationally with the Matrix program.

“Every week we go to a different state, and about every two to three days we’re in a different city, a different salon or school,” Ritter said.

Ritter said he and Pickering are motivational speakers because of the positive stories they have about getting into and graduating from beauty and hair care school.

“Becoming a hair stylist has changed my life. I was at rock bottom. Got arrested, got a felony - and I really wanted to do something to change my life. It’s been a crazy journey for me from where I came from to where I am now,” Pickering said.

Ritter said if he hadn’t become a hair stylist, he probably wouldn’t be alive today.

“We talk to students about going to school, graduating, making right choices, doing good and about how awesome it is to be a hair stylist because we cosmetically and psychologically transform the lives and destinies of others every single day,” Ritter said.

He said the team works in salons, holds charitable events, takes and teaches classes, and talks to young fellow stylists.

“We try to inspire them and get passion back into them. Over the past couple of years, stylists have lost passion because it has all become about them. Being a hair stylist is about giving back to your community and giving back to your client,” Ritter said.

He said most clients don’t come to salons for services offered.

“Ninety percent of the time, the client comes back because of you and what you do for them and how you make them feel,” Ritter said.

In Alaska, the team participated in a "cutathon," joining 17 salons to raise goods for a food bank. “In four hours at one salon we raised 405 pounds of food,” Ritter said.

In Arkansas the team participated in Blowout Against Crohn’s Disease.

“In just seven blowouts, I raised $500 for the organization,” he said.

A week earlier, they took part in a Red Cross tornado relief cutathon where they raised more than $400. They also provided free makeovers - haircuts, hair coloring, manicure, pedicure and make-up - for parents at the Arkansas Ronald McDonald House.

Ritter and Pickering visited the Delaware Institute of Cosmetology in Dagsboro to inspire students there, took a trip to the beach and went out for dinner before heading to the next stop in Pennsylvania.

“We just want to touch as many lives as we can, inspire as many people as we can and make as much change in the community as we can,” Ritter said.

Matrix equipped each team member with a new laptop computer, new cell phone and a digital video camera, enabling them to post regular blogs and updates.

“People can live vicariously through us and share our experiences while we’re on the road,” Pickering said.

Clients and friends are invited to follow along each week, as the Head Sprung team shares experiences, tips, and ideas about their approach to hairstyling and beauty.

“It’s a pretty incredible thing they’re doing. I think these guys will help develop a lot of change,” Harris said.

To follow the Matrix Spread the Love program, go to www.mymatrixfamily.com. Hair Sprung Hair Studio is at 17563 Nassau Commons Blvd., suite D, Lewes.

For additional information, go to www.headsprunghair.com or phone 302-644-1355.