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The Unemployed To Get Free Haircuts At O Salon In Georgetown

O Salon Shot

Posted: 11/30/11 02:24 PM ET

WASHINGTON -- Georgetown's O Salon sent out an email Tuesday to its clientele advertising that it would give anyone who's unemployed a free haircut. Within two hours, Guillaume Choquet, the salon's co-owner, said he was booked up for the reserved spots.

"We understand the holiday season can be a stressful time financially, and would be happy to add a little joy to your Christmas," the salon wrote in the email.

The O Street NW business is a relatively upscale hair salon that can appear fairly pricey for a recent college graduate or someone without a job. But Choquet had the idea to block off Dec. 5 to give out free haircuts for the unemployed after hearing on Sirius radio about another stylist doing the same thing.

Choquet said that only two of the people who made appointments were already clientele, and that the rest were new to the salon.

"To be perfectly honest I was stunned, I was very surprised it would book that fast," Choquet told The Huffington Post.

He said he was still getting calls and was trying to figure out whether he would extend the special. At this point he said he's thinking about making it something he does once a month.

"You go to apply for a job, you need to look good," Choquet said. "And this area more than anywhere you need to look very good."

O Salon is not the first to give out free haircuts to the unemployed -- salons have done so in Michigan and New York as well.

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WASHINGTON -- Georgetown's O Salon sent out an email Tuesday to its clientele advertising that it would give anyone who's unemployed a free haircut. Within two hours, Guillaume Choquet, the salon's co...
WASHINGTON -- Georgetown's O Salon sent out an email Tuesday to its clientele advertising that it would give anyone who's unemployed a free haircut. Within two hours, Guillaume Choquet, the salon's co...
 
 
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09:10 AM on 12/06/2011
great job to that salon...stepping up and helping. just as long as us taxpayers aren't forced to do it. Our bill is already too high.
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12:47 AM on 12/01/2011
The Middle Class: Smart, compassionate, responsive, generous, inspired, has good values. Elect us to congress!
06:02 AM on 12/01/2011
I just wish there were ways for more of these common sense, compassionate, hard working folks to be elected to our Congress. Unfortunately seems you have to be bought and paid for by the mighty corporations or special interest groups to even have a prayer to be able to serve our country in that capacity.

Then even IF you have these good folks actually make it to these positions, then it's even a bigger fight to have any influence at all against those that are bought and paid for. Ugh....I'll give up there...this is becoming depressing... :)
12:03 AM on 12/01/2011
While I truly feel this is a wonderful thing they are doing in these tough economy times, however, how can one prove that they are unemployed? Dont mean to be "negative" but there are people out there that can take advantage to get anything for a freebie
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Michael Legnon
One world, one people
03:38 PM on 12/01/2011
Agree with you there. That's why I partnered with Salvation Army.
07:18 PM on 12/01/2011
The only proof I ask for is good faith. I trust people to do the right thing.
Guillaume Choquet
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Michael Legnon
One world, one people
11:46 PM on 11/30/2011
I've been doing this, as an ongoing, monthly thing, for almost three years now here in Ft Myers, Fl.. I partnered with Salvation Army and we came up with a program....I applaud the salon because every little bit helps, as they say. However and sadly, it's a year round problem.
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CaptainRenault
Here to keep an eye on the rascals.
07:36 PM on 11/30/2011
Applause to O Salon!

I sure wish someplace on the east side of Cleveland would do this!

^ ^
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Michael Legnon
One world, one people
11:49 PM on 11/30/2011
call Dino Palmeri's and suggest it. He's a nice guy, he might do it.
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CaptainRenault
Here to keep an eye on the rascals.
05:47 PM on 12/01/2011
Thank you! -- That's a very good suggestion!

^ ^
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DanielSC
03:30 PM on 11/30/2011
This story made me smile; it is nice to see a business owner took out for those who are out of a job, especially when I have started seeing a lot of unemployment discrimination pop up.
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DanielSC
03:31 PM on 11/30/2011
look out*
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tubette
02:48 PM on 11/30/2011
Bravo! these stories warm my heart!