Three hundred and twelve heads in one day.

The Haircut-a-Thon is the one day a year when the salon takes over the whole Hawthorne building, the courtyard, and a tent in the parking lot. Nine chairs, six licensed barbers volunteering their Saturday, and every student who has passed floor certification. Last year we cut 312 heads between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., which is a cut every 104 seconds, which is why there is a line and why there is also a DJ.

Who it is for

Anyone. Kids, adults, grandparents, neighbors, people who have not had a haircut in a year because they could not afford one, people who just want a trim. No ID, no proof of address, no enrollment required, no questions. If you have hair, we will cut it. If you do not, we will tidy up what you have.

What to expect

• Arrive any time between 9 and 5. The line moves faster than it looks.
• Simple cuts only: trims, buzzes, kids' cuts, line-ups, and shape-ups. No color, no chemicals.
• You will be asked to sign a consent slip and to confirm what you want before anyone starts.
• A licensed barber checks every cut before you leave the chair.
• Tips are declined. There is a donation jar for the snack fund, and nobody will mention it.

Why we do it

Because a haircut is one of the few things that makes a person feel immediately more like themselves, and because it is the single best way to show the neighborhood what our kids can do. About a third of the people in line have never heard of STENCH. By the time they leave, they have had a conversation with a twelve-year-old about what they wanted, which is a more persuasive pitch than anything on this website.