Braided Faded Crew keeps 14-year tradition going
This Sunday afternoon, kids will line up for Bac 2 Skool haircuts offered by Shareeta Fairley and her team of stylists, who volunteer their time and skills one afternoon in August to cut hair for free.
Doors will open at 2 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Department building at the Murphy Park football field, 1600 Veterans Drive, where the event has been held for the past five years. The cut-off time for haircuts is 5:30 p.m. Aug. 9.
In the past, Fairley said she and the Braided Faded Crew have had seven children show up for a trim, while another year they had over 100.
“It’s all about who’s in need at the time,” she said.
The Braided Faded Crew is made up of stylists who volunteer with Shareeta Fairley providing free haircuts to students returning to school for a new year. Photo courtesy of Shareeta Fairley
Fairley added this is their way to give back to the community.
“We’ve all been blessed with a talent and mine is to do hair,” she said.
Bac 2 Skool is always scheduled before the beginning of the new school year. The first day of school for the Taylor Independent School District is Aug. 12.
Fairley noted people often think of clothes, shoes and school supplies for students in need, “but sometimes hair gets lost because they haven’t thought about that.”
When she started the no-cost back-to-school haircuts over 14 years ago, Fairley said she was the only one doing it, but now she has seen other communities and salons offering the same service.
“The communities are catching on,” Fairley said. “We’ve got to be here for these kids.”
Over the years, Fairley has considered not offering the Bac 2 Skool haircuts, but she said then a parent would reach out or a child would run up to her asking if she was going to cut their hair again and she could not say no.
“People look forward to it,” said Jason Hennington, a friend of Fairley and a former editor of the Taylor Press.
Hennington added students usually leave with school supplies, too.
“It’s really a great thing (Fairley) and her group put on,” added Hennington, now a teacher at Hutto High School.
The Braided Faded Crew wants the pupils to start classes with a positive outlook, Fairley said.
“If kids are looking good and they’re feeling good, they’re going to do good. There’s nothing like going to school with a fresh haircut or a fresh hairstyle. That gives you confidence to go through and say, ‘This is my year.’ That’s what keeps us coming back year after year.”
Last August, volunteer stylist Olivia Torres gave student Jeremiah Caldwell a haircut before the start of classes. The Braided Faded Crew, led by Shareeta Fairley, is offering the no-cost trims again on Sunday, Aug. 9. Photo courtesy of Shareeta Fairley
