Some came because a friend or loved one was stricken with breast cancer; others out of loyalty to the salon and its family atmosphere; others because they battle the disease themselves. No matter what the reason more than 50 clients (including NAILS senior editor Debbie Rosenkrantz) spanning two and three generations came to Dee $ails Enhancements in Canoga Park, Calif., to get a $10 manicure, a $25 Spa-Pedicure, or purchase special gift items and baskets during its “Day of Hope. The event was sponsored by the salon itself, with donations from clients and local businesses, in conjunction with Creative Nail Design. “Every client who came has known someone who had some form of cancer,” says owner Dee Nguyen. “It is a very personal cause.”

Salon owner and Creative educator Dee Nguyen lavishes client Nancy Cassidy with a $10 manicure. Cassidy also donated the popcorn machine that helped raise a bonus $25.

Salon owner and Creative educator Dee Nguyen lavishes client Nancy Cassidy with a $10 manicure. Cassidy also donated the popcorn machine that helped raise a bonus $25.

In just under two days, Nguyen, her husband/Creative educator Chet Le, and Creative educators Monica Leiper, Justine Hartel, and Minh Nguyen, raised $1,000 for the City of Hope Breast Cancer Research Fund. Nguyen’s three children also pitched in and sold bags of popcorn for 50$ each, raising $25.

Despite being short-staffed two educators, the five nail technicians dug in deep and kept clients moving, even though at times they were two hours behind. “We couldn’t say ‘no’ to any of the clients because that would take money away from the donation,” says Nguyen. “We were lucky to have such loyal and patient clients behind our cause.” Spurred on by the visit of an educator from another manufacturer on the second day of the event, Nguyen has decided to open next year’s Day of Hope up to all interested nail technicians.

Several other salons worked with Creative and the City of Hope, including Butter Creek Salon in Hermiston, Ore., and The Purple Door Nail & Spa in Portland. Two more events took place in Redmond, Wash, and Seattle. In total, these four salon events raised almost $5,000.

Creative, in partnership with City of Hope, has also introduced Hope, a new pink semi-sheer enamel that retails for $3, all net proceeds donated to the cause. Here’s how it works: Creative sells the polish to the distributor for $3, the distributor sells it to the salon for $3, and the salon sells it to the client for $3.Buy Hope.” says Creative’s Jan Arnold,and you’ll be giving hope to women everywhere.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.