Just Cuts™ has set a new Guiness world record for the most number of haircuts conducted in eight hours for the Wesley Mission event, Wesley Haircut for Homelessness, to raise awareness about the issue of homelessness during Homeless Person’ Week (5th-12th August).
On Tuesday 6th August 2013 in Sydney city’s bustling Martin Place, ten of Just Cuts™’ leading Stylists cut the hair of 409 people for free between 9am and 5pm, smashing the existing world record by 50 cuts. The haircuts were counted by the official adjudicators - Schwarzkopf Professional stylists.
Shortly before 4pm, Sean Collins from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada was the 360th person to have a haircut. “I haven’t had a haircut in seven months so I guess I qualify,” he said.
The criteria set by Guinness required that event participants had at least eight centimetres of hair at the start of each haircut. Ensuring no one was left out Just Cuts™ had five additional leading Stylists on hand to professionally cut the hair of those that didn't qualify for the record. In all, over 600 haircuts were completed by the team of 15 on the day.
CEO and founder of Just Cuts™ , Denis McFadden was thrilled to be part of the event and extremely proud of the team.
"I can't explain how proud I am of you all." he said "Together with Wesley Mission we have made history and in the process raised important awareness and funds for National Homeless Persons Week."
The CEO of Wesley Mission, the Rev Dr Keith Garner, thanked the Just Cuts™ hairdressers and event organizers, and emphasised the importance of the event in raising awareness of homelessness in Australia.
“You’ve done a wonderful job but you also have been part of something special, especially for those people who are homeless and disadvantaged,” he said. “You are part of a new world record – something you will remember. But those who you have helped will also remember this day long into the future.”
Around 100,000 Australians are homeless and 17 per cent of all homeless people are under the age of 12.
Approximately $2000 in donations were collected on the day, and donations are still being received online at www.wesleymission.org.au/donate where donations can be made at any time. Donations are also being taken at any Just Cuts™ salon across Australia until the 13th August, 2013.
Congratulations to the Just Cuts™ Stylist Team who cut their way into history:
Kelly Simmonds - Just Cuts™ Whitford WA
Dione Rowlands - Just Cuts™ Innaloo WA
Kristy Peterson - Just Cuts™ Werribee Plaza VIC
Melissa Dunston - Just Cuts™ Werribee Plaza VIC
Connie Malfone - Just Cuts™ Canberra Centre ACT
Bernadette Mifsud - Just Cuts™ Queanbeyan NSW
Annie Ahn - Just Cuts™ Tuggeranong ACT
Lucia Nesci - Just Cuts™ Queanbeyan NSW
Niki Katsibiris - Just Cuts™ Gungahlin ACT
Samantha Tuff - Just Cuts™ West Lakes SA
AJ Biswa - Just Cuts™ Miranda NSW
Santo Burgio - Just Cuts™ Broadway NSW
Johneen Keen - Just Cuts™ Eastgardens NSW
Maree Schuster - Just Cuts™ Tuggerah NSW
Sharyn Buckley - Just Cuts™ Bateau Bay NSW
For more information and links to the photo library for the day contact:
Kelly Gaunt
National Marketing Projects
Just Cuts™ Franchising
02 9527 5444
media@justcuts.com