Last year, we reported on the terrible tragedy at a salon in Seal Beach, California.   A shooting that devastated a salon family, shocked a community, and deeply affected everyone who heard of this terrible event. 

On October 12, 2011, the estranged husband of one of the stylists at Salon Meritage stormed through the front door of the salon.  After he was finished shooting, six people were killed, three seriously wounded, with two of the wounded later dying from their injuries.  Among the dead was salon owner, Randi Fannin.

Upon hearing the news, Stacey Soble, the Editor in Chief of SALON TODAY called upon her industry friends to get their reactions and share their feelings.  “As we do with news story, we emailed owners and stylists in the industry for quotes and posted the first news online, but it was unusually silent for the beauty industry. Everyone was in shock. They couldn't believe such a heinous event could happen in a salon and they were unusually speechless."

The Los Angeles Times reported on the anniversary of the shooting and on the salon's plans to reopen.  They have covered up that front door and created a new entrance into the salon.

Aside from outpourings of grief, the  shooting also provoked a great deal of discussion around the subject of domestic abuse.  While acknowledging that violence can visit any workplace, the beauty industry is predominantly women and women makeup the majority of those abused.

To give salons a way to build awareness around the problem, the Professional Beauty Industry launched CUT IT OUT, a program of the Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund dedicated to mobilizing salon professionals and others to fight the epidemic of domestic abuse in communities across the United States. CUT IT OUT builds awareness of domestic abuse and trains salon professionals to recognize warning signs and safely refer clients and co-workers to local resources. 

And so Salon Meritage will pay tribute to their beloved family members and friends by opening its new door and welcoming clients back home.  We wish you every success,  we're thinking of you and we remember.