Westford Teens Use Cosmetology to Help Foster Families

Fifteen cosmetology students at Nashoba Valley Technical High School in Westford volunteered at the Department of Children and Families’ annual Hair Care event for foster families. (masscte.org) The students worked alongside professional barbers on a Sunday in April, washing, braiding, twisting, coiling and cutting hair for more than 20 children. (masscte.org) (nashobatech.net) The event was hosted by the Department of Children and Families’ Lowell Branch, which invited foster parents to Nashoba Tech while children received services. (masscte.org) (mass.gov) Salon Forza specialists from Andover showed foster parents how to care for textured hair, a skill that can be especially important in transracial and foster placements. (masscte.org) (mass.gov) Nashoba Tech had already built that work into its cosmetology program by May 2024, when students hosted Department of Children and Families staff and other agencies for a similar textured-hair education event. (nashobatech.net) (westfordcat.org) In that 2024 session, students provided braids, coils and twists while foster families learned curl care, making this year’s volunteer day part of an ongoing partnership rather than a one-off service project. (nashobatech.net) (westfordcat.org) The student volunteers this year came from Westford, Pepperell, Townsend, Littleton, Shirley, Ayer and Chelmsford, including freshmen, sophomores, a junior and one senior. (masscte.org) Nashoba Tech’s cosmetology program trains students for hair, skin and nail careers and includes the 1,000 hours required by the Massachusetts State Board of Cosmetology. (nashobatech.net) For the foster families who came to Westford, the day combined practical care with training: children left with styled hair, and parents left with techniques they could use at home. (masscte.org) (nashobatech.net)