For Eileen Scanlon the real work begins beyond the haircut. Through Scanlon’s Traveling Salon, Scanlon brings hair care directly to seniors, homebound individuals, hospice patients, assisted living facilities, group sober homes and others who may have difficulty getting to a traditional salon. Her clients span Nassau, Suffolk and Queens counties.
Because Scanlon travels to her clients, the cost of an appointment can vary based on location. She adds a travel fee for appointments farther from home but said she will also make exceptions when a client is experiencing financial hardship.But once Scanlon arrives at a client’s home, the appointment often becomes much more than styling hair.
Scanlon, of East Meadow, has been a licensed cosmetologist since she was 17. She started her traveling salon upon returning to New York after living in Boca Raton, Florida, in 2010.
She began thinking about how she could use her cosmetology license in a unique way.
The idea came while visiting a friend in the hospital who asked her to bring her supplies and give him a haircut. Nurses who saw her work encouraged Scanlon to turn the idea into a business.
Her commitment to serving the vulnerable, however, began even earlier.
Scanlon worked with Community Solidarity, which provides food and clothing to underserved communities. She volunteered in places including Hempstead, Wyandanch, Huntington Station and Brooklyn, where she also provided free haircuts.
Carol Marcus, a friend and volunteer who worked with Scanlon through the organization, said she has watched Scanlon’s commitment to helping others continue over the years.
“I don’t know how she sleeps because she does so much,” Marcus said. “She does for humans, for animals, for anybody who has a need.”
Marcus said Scanlon’s work with people has always extended beyond a single service or interaction. She recalled Scanlon helping her with a feral cat in need and continuing to help people in her community in whatever ways she can.
For Scanlon, those personal connections are an important part of the work.
She said some of the seniors and homebound individuals she meets have little family support and may go weeks without seeing anyone.
When she visits a new client, she may bring flowers or homemade soap, then sit and talk before beginning the appointment.
“I just try to convey to them that they are seen and they are heard,” Scanlon said.
Her relationships with clients sometimes continue long after she leaves their homes. She regularly checks in on people who may not have a strong support system, whether that means sending a text, making a phone call or simply spending additional time with someone who needs company.
“It satiates my soul,” Scanlon said of staying connected with her clients.
Catherine Duke, a Westbury resident and longtime client, first encountered Scanlon during the coronavirus pandemic.
Duke said she noticed Scanlon’s business vehicle while walking in her neighborhood and later looked up the business online. At the time, Duke was unable to visit her usual salon in Manhattan, so she reached out to Scanlon.
In the summer of 2020, Scanlon began cutting and styling Duke and her partner’s hair outdoors while wearing masks. Duke said Scanlon’s work compared favorably with the salon services she had previously received in New York, while also offering a more personal experience.
“She’s just a really good person,” Duke said. “She’s just got such good energy and wants to contribute and be helpful to everybody.”
Duke said Scanlon’s willingness to help has extended beyond her work as a cosmetologist. Scanlon has helped her address stray cats on her property and has also supported Duke during a difficult personal situation.
“She just kind of goes above and beyond for folks,” Duke said. “She cares about the community.”
Duke also said Scanlon brings that same thoughtfulness to her work behind the chair. “She helps you find your style and your color in your own way,” Duke said.
Scanlon said her work has reinforced her belief that vulnerable people can easily become overlooked.
“Those who can’t get out, those who are suffering from dementia, those who have cancer, can call me,” she said. “I come into the house, and it’s more like a social visit.”
For Scanlon, that social connection can be just as meaningful as the service itself.
“I could come in and brighten their day,” she said.
Whether she is working with a client on Long Island, traveling elsewhere or returning to communities where she once volunteered, Scanlon said she sees her work as part of something larger than herself.
“We’re all connected,” she said. “I incorporate my love of outreach within my business.”
