FAQs

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Support FAQ
Clients FAQ
Volunteers FAQ

Supporting Beauty Bus:

How can I donate money?

Thank you for your support!  Every dollar raised helps bring beauty home to our clients.  You can donate on-line, send us a check made out to Beauty Bus Foundation (2716 Ocean Park Blvd. Suite 1062, Santa Monica, CA 90405) or call (310-392-0900) with a credit card.  We accept Mastercard, Visa or Discover, but unfortunately cannot accept American Express.  Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.  Beauty Bus is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation – EIN # 26-3075655.

How can I donate product? What kind of product does Beauty Bus accept?

Beauty Bus accepts new and unused beauty and grooming products to use on visits or provide to clients in gift bags (please see our Bag of Beauty program).   We need hair products, makeup, lotions, nail polish, manicure & pedicure products, facial products and equipment (i.e. blowdryers, sheers, nail files, etc.) We generally do not provide our clients with anything to ingest, due to their compromised immune systems and ongoing medical care.  We welcome product donations from corporate sponsors. We can accept products that are being repackaged or reformulated but we cannot accept expired or used products.  Beauty Bus will provide you with a donation letter for tax purposes.  Thank you in advance on behalf of our clients.

Does Beauty Bus have a real bus?

Yes! We have a Ford Transit Connect Wagon that we take to Pop-Up Salon Events, Walks and other events. There is space available on the exterior of the bus for corporate logos and/or signage. If you are interested in sponsoring the Bus please contact Alicia Liotta at alicia@beautybus.org or 310-392-0900.

I cannot donate money, what other ways can I help out Beauty Bus?

We look forward to getting you on the bus!  In Los Angeles, we are in need of Beauty Professionals to perform beauty & grooming services, as well as Beauty Buddies (compassionate non-beauty professionals accompany Beauty Professionals on home visits and at Pop-Up Salons). Whether you are in Los Angeles or not, we are in need of Beauty Ambassadors, compassionate individuals both in the Los Angeles area and nationally to help spread our message. In Los Angeles, Beauty Ambassadors volunteer in the office and at fundraising events. Volunteers outside the Los Angeles area help spread our message by holding product drives, cut-a-thons or other fundraising or awareness building events!

When is Beauty Bus expanding nationally?

At the beginning of 2012, Beauty Bus will begin to send Bags of Beauty to chronically or terminally ill men, women and children around the country and their caregivers, whom we cannot visit in person.  The bags we send to those battling illnesses and their dedicated caregivers will remind these patients and unsung heroes that there is someone out there thinking about them and that they deserve to look and feel beautiful. Our wish is that these Bags of Beauty will bring smiles and hope to those who need it most.

In addition to people in other cities, the bags will also go to people in Southern California who are outside of our service area or have diseases we do not service.

The Bag of Beauty Program will officially launch at the end of 2011, with a Holiday Gift Box fundraiser. Holiday Gift Boxes will be available for purchase beginning November 1, 2011 online or by calling Beauty Bus (310-392-0900 or 855-497-8283).

To compliment the Bag of Beauty Program as well as our In-Home Visits and Pop-Up Salons in Los Angeles, videos by celebrity stylists and the beauty industry’s top educators, will be available on the Beauty Bus website and on our YouTube channel so patients and caregivers around the country can get beauty and grooming tips from the pros.  These beauty tips will be an interactive way to bring Beauty Bus into everyone’s home.

In the latter part of 2012, Beauty Bus will continue our national expansion by partnering with beauty professionals and social service agencies nation-wide to create “Virtual Salons” around the country where patients and caregivers can come for a moment of escape and receive a variety of beauty services.

How do I bring Beauty Bus to my own city?

It is a lot of work to create a non-profit – we worked for almost 2 years to get everything in place before we saw our first client.  If you would like to create an organization with a similar mission to Beauty Bus, here are some tips (please note that Beauty Bus is trademarked and protected, and our name, logo, colors and materials cannot be used without our permission): Create a Mission Statement; Create a strategic plan; Work with an attorney to get non-profit 501(c)(3) status; Apply for grants; Raise funds to support your efforts; Get insurance for your board, professional volunteers, auto and general liability; Put together an influential and involved Board of Directors; Recruit volunteers (beauty professional and non-beauty professionals); Connect with social workers, doctors and agencies to get volunteers; Create a name, logo and promotional materials; Create all forms – client application, medical release, volunteer application, releases of liability; Set up a website, email system, phone line; Solicit product donations; Work with an accountant; Work with an attorney to be sure your policies and procedures comply with state and federal laws.

Clients

How do I become a client?

Please fill out an Application for In-Home Service, Health Disclosure Authorization and obtain a Medical Release from your healthcare provider. These forms are available online or you can call us at 310-392-0900 or 855-497-8283 and we can mail you the forms.   Applicants must submit all three forms:  1) Application for In-Home Services; 2) Health Disclosure Authorization; and 3) Medical Release Form.  Once all documents have been submitted, Beauty Bus will confirm eligibility.  Beauty Bus will contact eligible individuals to schedule a visit, normally within two weeks.

Who comes to my house, and what happens on a visit?

Trained and licensed beauty professionals, as well as professional makeup artists, perform each service and are accompanied on each home visit by another Beauty Bus volunteer, the Beauty Buddy (compassionate non-beauty professionals to attend visits and bring companionship, smiles and laughter).  The Beauty Buddy will present each client and caregiver with a release that must be signed before the service begins.  Each service lasts approximately one hour.  If there is a caregiver, he or she must be present and available during the client’s Beauty Bus visit.  After every visit, we give clients and caregivers with a “Bag of Beauty” so the pampering continues.

Does Beauty Bus provide services to men?

Absolutely!  Beauty services men, women and children (and their caregivers) whose disease or condition prevents them from accessing a salon or spa.

Who is eligible for Beauty Bus’ in-home services?

Beauty Bus provides in-home services to individuals (and their caregivers) who are otherwise unable to access a salon or spa due to the following diseases or conditions:  ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s Disease, Spinal Cord Injuries, Stroke, and other select Neuromuscular and Motor Neuron Diseases.   Beauty Bus currently serves clients in Los Angeles County within the following boundaries:  NORTH:  118 Freeway; SOUTH:  Culver Blvd.; EAST:  110 FREEWAY; WEST:  Ocean/Kanan.   We hope and intend to expand our service area in the future.

Are there age requirements for clients?

Our oldest client is 101, and our youngest is 3.  Beauty Bus is happy to service anyone who lives in our service area, has a disease or condition we service, and cannot access a salon or spa.

What beauty and grooming services does Beauty Bus provide?

Beauty Bus provides the following beauty and grooming services in-home and free of charge to patients and their caregivers:

  • HAIR – Haircut, Blowdry, Styling (no color, perms or any other chemical service)
  • HANDS & FEET – Spa Manicure, Spa Pedicure, Men’s Manicure, Men’s Pedicure
  • FACE – Facial Treatments, Makeup Application (no waxing)

How many services can clients get?

Clients may receive 4 complimentary visits per 12 month period.  To receive more than 4 services, Beauty Bus asks that the client make a personally meaningful donation so that we can continue to serve those in need.  Currently, Beauty Bus is able to offer a maximum of 12 services per year. At each visit, Beauty Bus can perform two services – one for the client and one for the caregiver.  Only one type of beauty service can be offered per in-home visit.

How much do Beauty Bus services cost?

Beauty Bus services are absolutely free to our clients.  Tips are not accepted, but we can accept donations so that we can continue to serve those in need. After 4 visits we ask that the client make a personally meaningful donation so that we can continue to serve those in need.

How do I refer a client?

If you know of someone who can benefit from Beauty Bus’ services, please have them contact us to obtain an application for In-Home Services.  We also welcome referrals from social workers and other professionals.

What if I want to be a client, but live outside of Beauty Bus’ service area?

Beauty Bus currently serves clients in Los Angeles County within the following boundaries:  NORTH:  118 Freeway; SOUTH:  Culver Blvd.; EAST:  110 FREEWAY; WEST:  Ocean/Kanan.  We are a young, new non-profit and hope to expand our service area in the future.  Los Angeles clients who live outside of our service-area can submit an application, and we will service you if we have volunteers who are able to travel to you (our volunteers are only required to travel 5 miles from their home or place of business).
You can also submit an application for our Bags of Beauty Program. At the beginning of 2012, Beauty Bus will begin to send Bags of Beauty to chronically or terminally ill men, women and children around the country and to their caregivers, whom we cannot visit in person.

I have a disease that is not one Beauty Bus services – can Beauty Bus come to my house?

In consultation with doctors, Beauty Bus created the list of diseases and conditions we currently service [ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s Disease, Spinal Cord Injuries, Stroke, and other select Neuromuscular and Motor Neuron Diseases].    Beauty Bus cannot perform in-home services for patients who do not qualify for our services. We hope to one day have the resources to expand the diseases and conditions we are able to service.

Volunteers

How can I volunteer?

Beauty Bus welcomes new volunteers.  Please complete our volunteer application and reference forms, or call us at 310-392-0900 or 855-497-8283 and we will mail them to you.  There are three primary ways to volunteer.

  • Beauty Professionals:  Licensed hair dressers, nail technicians and estheticians, as well as professional make-up artists, to perform Beauty Bus treatments.
  • Beauty Buddies:  Compassionate non-beauty professionals to attend visits and bring smiles and laughter. Beauty Buddies are the liaisons between clients, Beauty Professionals and Beauty Bus Foundation.  They help to recreate a salon or spa environment on a visit.
  • Beauty Ambassadors: Local and national volunteers to help spread our message. In Los Angeles, Beauty Ambassadors volunteer in the office and at fundraising events. Volunteers outside the Los Angeles area help spread our message by holding product drives, cut-a-thons or other fundraising or awareness building events!

I want to volunteer but don’t live in LA?

Help us spread the word about Beauty Bus.  Host a fundraiser or friendraiser.  Have a product drive for new or unused products.  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

I’m a cosmetology student. What can I do for Beauty Bus?

Beauty Bus welcomes cosmetology students as office & event volunteers and Beauty Buddies who attend home visits with the professional.  Only licensed hairdressers, nail technicians and estheticians, as well as professional makeup artists, can perform In-Home Beauty Bus services.   Cosmetology students under the supervision of their teachers may perform services at Pop-Up Salon events. Beauty Bus confirms all professional licenses with the California Board of Barbering & Cosmetology.   Many cosmetology students volunteer with us in beauty school and become volunteer Beauty Professionals once they have their license.

I cannot attend a scheduled training, but how can I help?

Every volunteer must attend a training before attending In-Home visits.  We can provide a custom training for groups of 5 or more people.  Volunteers can attend fundraisers and events before going through a formal training.  All volunteers must sign a release before volunteering.

How can kids get involved?

Beauty Bus has lots of opportunities for kids to get involved.  Kids can host bakesales; come into the office to help; organize product drives; volunteer at our fundraisers or events; host their own fundraiser (manicure parties; lemonade stands); make green and orange friendship bracelets or hair bows for clients…the possibilities are endless and we love creativity!  Volunteers must be 18 to attend home visits.