Beauty for Good: Look Good…Feel Better

If you’ve been in the beauty industry a while, you may already be familiar with Look Good…Feel Better. This free, non-medical, national public service program is dedicated to helping women with cancer cope with the appearance-related side effects of the illness and treatment. Created to help individuals with cancer look good and improve their self-esteem and confidence, Look Good…Feel Better offers cancer patients advice and assistance through group programs, self-help materials, websites, and brochures.

 

Here are some things you may not know about this 22-year-old organization:

 

> In 1988 Look Good…Feel Better introduced its pilot program in New York at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and in Washington D.C. at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Cancer Center.

 

> By 1992 Look Good…Feel Better was available in all 50 states.

 

> Annually there are approximately 8,700 group programs offered nationwide in more than 2,500 locations, including comprehensive cancer centers, local hospitals, American Cancer Society offices, and other community settings.

 

> Look Good…Feel Better has served 650,000 women since the program’s inception in 1989.

 

> In 1993 renowned fashion designer Oscar De La Renta unveiled an original scarf design to benefit Look Good…Feel Better.

 

> Ninety-eight percent of Look Good…Feel Better participants who responded to an online evaluation rated the program as very useful or useful.. Ninety-five percent stated that Look Good…Feel Better was of value in improving their self-esteem.

 

> There are 14,000 volunteers who donate their time to Look Good…Feel Better.

 

> Look Good…Feel Better has been featured on Behind the Bash, CNN Headline News, Entertainment Tonight, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, The Today Show, and The View.

 

> Look Good…Feel Better is supported by 262 companies who contribute through financial, product, and in-kind donations.

 

> Look Good...Feel Better for Men conducted its first group workshop pilot program in January 2009 at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

 

The organization is looking for licensed cosmetologists — as well as nail techs, estheticians, and make-up artists — to conduct group programs and/or one-on-one salon consultations. As a volunteer cosmetologist, you would teach women tips and techniques to improve their appearance and maintain a positive self-image. For more information, go to lookgoodfeelbetter.org.

 

— Judy

 

Beauty for Good spotlights beauty products, services, and events that benefit a good cause. To be considered for this column, leave a comment below or e-mail details to features editor Judy at Judy.Lessin[at]bobit.com.