“Look Good Feel Better” program
Published: January 14, 2006
Some cosmetology students at Greater Lawrence Technical School are learning about more than makeup. They are learning about life.
Working with Suzanne Anganes, chairwoman of the school’s Cosmetology Department, the students fit patients who have lost their hair during cancer treatment with new wigs.
“The wigs lift spirits like you can’t imagine,” Anganes said. “Some women come in feeling lower than they ever have and many leave with big smiles. Their self-worth skyrockets.”
Anganes became American Cancer Society-certified last year after she saw an ad in a local newspaper offering licensed cosmetologists the opportunity to become certified in the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association’s “Look Good, Feel Better” program. The program is a free, nonmedical, nationally based public service supported by the American Cancer Society.
Anganes’ interest was piqued because she had a friend who had undergone treatment for cancer. She said getting her certification to run a wig bank at the school has done wonders for her students.
“I wanted my students to help women who are going through a really rough time,” Anganes said. “The students can’t touch a client until they become licensed, but they can assist me by handing me tools and, most importantly, by watching and learning.”
Anganes hopes bringing Look Good, Feel Better to Greater Lawrence will encourage at least some of her students to become certified after they become licensed. She said cosmetology students receive a high school diploma upon graduation and may take the licensing exam any time before or after graduation.
Sasha Ortiz, 17, a senior who is licensed, plans to become certified. She said she hopes to own a salon someday and will incorporate the Look Good, Feel Better program into her business.
“It makes me feel good to help others,” Ortiz said. “Some of them just don’t care anymore, and we can help them start feeling good and looking good again. It really boosts their self-esteem.”
Ortiz said she thinks about the change she saw in one client.
“She was sad,” Ortiz said. “She was talking about her little kids and how they were feeling about her situation. Then we got her to start trying on wigs. She tried on a funny, weird-looking wig and began to laugh when she looked at herself.”
Ortiz said the wig lifted her spirits for a few minutes.
“She wanted a wig so her kids wouldn’t be scared as she lost her hair,” Ortiz said. “She was all excited when we sent it to her.”
At 17, Ortiz said, the program has forced her to think about her own and her mother’s mortality.
“Working with all of these clients has taught me not to rush,” she said. “We should take our time and have fun in life. If something like this happens, we should fight and look for solutions. A wig and some makeup are small solutions that make a huge difference.”
Jesenia Gonzalez, 17, a senior in the program, said she will probably get her license before she graduates, and will then become certified.
“I’m going to go to college, but I’ll work while I’m going and I hope to keep doing this,” Gonzalez said. “It makes me feel happy seeing our clients’ faces after they’ve been fitted for a wig. I’m proud to assist.”
Anganes takes the students interested in the program through the entire process with clients. Numerous salons donate wigs to the program.
Anganes began her career working as a cosmetologist and later went back to school to get her teaching certificate. She said 18 students graduated from the program last year - 16 had their licenses before graduation.
She says at least two of this year’s students are interested in getting certified.
Anganes said she always reminds her students that they are not doctors, but play a very important role and make wonderful contributions to the lives of patients with cancer.
“My students attend the consultation I have with the client,” Anganes said. “We want to know how each client feels and find out what each one wants. We want to know what style, color, texture and length each client is looking for. We want the client to be as happy as possible.”
“If we can make a cancer patient feel good for just a few minutes and we can watch someone who has been down begin to laugh and talk and maybe if a cancer patient can forget for a short time and hold her head up and feel good about herself, then maybe we’ve done something really good,” Anganes said.
“If a cancer patient can look into the mirror and say, ‘I look good today,’ then she might be able to feel good that day, too.”
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