Makeup artists who keep beautiful people looking beautiful offered their services Wednesday at The Bridge, and they made a difference that was more than skin deep. “I feel like a million bucks,” Peggy Richards said after her free makeover at the downtown Dallas homeless shelter. “I feel like I went on TV and came back.”
Makeup hadn’t touched Barbara Tidwell’s face in 15 years. And it was the first time ever for 46-year-old Rose Ransom.
“I think I look real pretty today,” she said.
Wednesday’s makeovers were a Valentine’s treat that included cupcakes, a serenade, a professional makeover and a bag of cosmetics.
Susan Allen, who has been volunteering at The Bridge for a month, organized the event. She noticed a void of services for women, who make up about 17 percent of the shelter’s clientele.
Allen had been assigned to watch over The Bridge’s barbershop, where men get haircuts on days when volunteer barbers are available.
Allen envisioned a Valentine’s makeup event and contacted makeup artist Shayla McDonald, who got the day rolling.
McDonald, whose usual clients include TV anchors and the wives of superstar athletes, had previously donated her time to programs that help women prepare for job interviews.
“You look good to feel good,” Allen said. “With a homeless woman, ‘Nobody loves me; I don’t care to look good; I’m never going to get better.’ ”
Men who have used the barbershop at The Bridge have a new confidence when applying for a job or just asking for an application, said Alonzo Peterson, the center’s community affairs director.
Allen hopes to get volunteer stylists to help women at The Bridge care for their hair.
“They can feel more confident walking in … because they look like we all look,” Peterson said. “There’s a huge connection there.”
Tidwell was delighted to be made up for the first time in 15 years. She plans to marry this spring.
“I look like a female instead of a tomboy,” she said.
Tidwell said she had no reason to use makeup until recently.
“I just felt depressed and like nobody cared whether I was made up or not, and now that I’ve got Larry in my life, I’m going to start doing it more often,” Tidwell said.
The thought that anyone cared enough to come to The Bridge to do a makeover made Richards’ day.
She said, “When I got that invitation, I was so happy I got down on my hands and knees and I prayed to the good Lord to tell him, ‘Thank you for the blessing.’ ”
By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News