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Local Mission Helps Dozens Of Homeless Women Get Brand New Look

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Dozens of homeless women got a new look on Monday when a Center City mission turned itself in to a free hair salon.

The Chosen 300 Mission on Spring Garden Street smelled like shampoo and hair products. The bathrooms became hair washing stations and dozens of women, like Jeanine, were enjoying the rare indulgence of professional hair care.

"I had my hair in braids and a scarf for a couple weeks now so I'm going to be grateful when it gets done; I'm going to be surprised and shocked and happy," said Jeanine.

The annual free hair day is the project of Germantown salon owner Rhonda Crawson.

"I noticed there were a lot of homeless women and recovering addicts and their outer appearance wasn't matching their inner beauty so God gave me the vision to get licensed cosmetologists from all over the city and once a year we can give back the gift."

Crawson says social networking helped her recruit 25 beauticians for this project, now in its fourth year of service.

Reported by Pat Loeb, KYW Newsradio

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