Barrier-Free Salon: Ukrainian volunteers bring inclusive beauty services to people with disabilities

What's the problem?

For older people, people with disabilities, and those suffering from severe illnesses in Ukraine, access to basic services often feels like a privilege they can't afford. Social isolation, lack of resources, and the fact that cities aren't designed to accommodate people with limited mobility only increase the sense of inequality.

"I was moved by the story of a young woman with cerebral palsy who said she couldn't even get into the store near her house because of the steps. She also couldn't access a beauty shop to buy skincare products because none had proper ramps," says Natalia Chipko, an esthetician from the western city of Mukachevo.

What's the solution?

A few months ago, Natalia Chipko joined a charity project called "Barrier-Free Salon," launched by the Ukrainian nonprofit organization Barrier-free Transcarpathia in Mukachevo. This initiative helps people with limited mobility care for themselves by offering free beauty services to those who can't visit salons. Thanks to the efforts of volunteer stylists, the Barrier-Free Salon not only improves clients' appearances but also boosts their mental well-being and promotes social integration.

How does it work?

"They want to feel beautiful, just like anyone else"

Barrier-Free Transcarpathia is a grassroots organization that advocates for the rights of people with limited mobility and promotes accessibility, inclusion, and the concept of barrier-free spaces. 

The idea for a "salon on wheels" came to Ruslan Protsenko, the organization's leader and accessibility expert, while getting a haircut from his barber, Roman Toroni. During that visit, Ruslan asked Roman if he'd be willing to cut hair for free, perhaps once a month, to help those in need. Roman agreed, mentioning that he already had experience doing similar charity work at the Regional Center for the Social and Psychological Rehabilitation of Children and Youth and in a military hospital.

"As we continued talking, we decided to expand the idea — to create a mobile beauty salon that could provide services to people who are either financially constrained or physically unable to visit regular salons. Many are wheelchair users or bedridden and can't even leave their homes," Ruslan explains. "We got excited about this idea and soon started working on the concept. That's how our Barrier-Free Salon project was born."

The NGO's team also agreed that the salon needed more than just hairdressers. They needed pedicure specialists, as people with disabilities often have issues with their feet and nails, as well as manicurists, an esthetician, and even a makeup artist.

"Over time, we built a team of people ready to work one or two days a month for free at our Barrier-Free Salon," says Ruslan Protsenko. "Right now, our team includes five hairdressers, three manicurists, two pedicurists, one podiatrist, one esthetician, one makeup artist, and myself. I'm their coordinator, driver, organizer, and sometimes even the person who sweeps up the cut hair. As everywhere, the highest demand is for haircuts, pedicures, manicures, and cosmetic services."

The project's target audience includes people with limited mobility, such as those with disabilities, older people, children under seven, pregnant women, and others who need help but cannot afford beauty salon services. The project's specialists provide free haircuts, pedicures, and cosmetic services and even travel to the homes of those unable to visit the salon.

The team usually selects a day each month to run the Barrier-Free Salon. After choosing the date, they announce it on the nonprofit's Facebook page and invite people to sign up for the salon. In the comments under the post, people leave their contact information or the details of relatives who need the mobile salon's services. 

The team meets a few days before the scheduled service to plan their "routes." They review requests and organize who will visit clients at home (typically the hairdressers) and who will stay at the physical salon in Mukachevo for those who can travel. Sometimes, the entire team heads to a single location, such as a rehabilitation center, orphanage, hospital, or other institution, to provide beauty services to a group of people all at once.

"We've already helped many people. We've been cutting hair for several months and have regular clients," says master barber Roman Toroni. "They want to feel beautiful just like anyone else, but most can't afford it due to health or financial reasons. This project allows us to do good deeds and help others in any way we can."

The Barrier-Free Salon project began in May, with the team's first visit to the Regional Center for the Social and Psychological Rehabilitation of Children and Youth with Disabilities. They helped the young people prepare for their end-of-year graduation. The project volunteers vividly remember how emotional and grateful the students were — their joy was beyond words.

Does it really work?

Since the project began, more than 200 people have become clients, says Ruslan Protsenko. The volunteers don't keep count, but they remember each person's story, struggles, and dreams.

For example, hairstylist Natalia Varha fondly recalls an older woman rarely leaving her home. The woman couldn't believe that she no longer had to ask someone to cut her hair — it was hard for her to find anyone to help, but now the Barrier-Free Salon takes care of her.

"Some clients are fans of my work — they insist that only I cut their hair," says Natalia Varha. "Take Ms. Larysa, for example. She has a strong character, but her physical condition has left her feeling down, like she's no longer needed. My visits make her feel happy and beautiful again. From the bottom of my heart, I always wish that everyone I work with keeps moving forward and never gives up, no matter what."

Among Natalia's clients are also two blind sisters and many others.

"Behind each person is a sad story, but I try to bring love, faith, and hope into their lives," she says. "This project allows me to fulfill one of my dreams — I want to see people around me feeling beautiful, happy, and confident. The look I create changes how they see themselves."

Another volunteer, Yevhenia Hankovych, is a manicurist and pedicurist with over 11 years of experience and a business owner who founded beauty salons. Always eager to help people who couldn't afford beauty services, Yevhenia gladly joined the Barrier-Free Salon to bring happiness and relieve discomfort. "After my treatments, people feel lighter, like they're floating, and joke, 'I must have lost a few kilos,'" she shares with a smile.

The project has also inspired Yevheniia to support newcomers in the beauty industry. She plans to offer free basic courses for those interested in manicures but lacking the finances. Her first student, a girl from an orphanage, is ready to start her training soon.

Esthetician Nataliia Chipko is also part of the project. A displaced person from the southern city of Odesa, Natalia, relocated to Mukachevo and immediately became a local volunteer. She began by cooking in a free kitchen for displaced people, cleaning the shores of the Zakarpattia Reservoir with eco-activists, and weaving camouflage nets for soldiers. Later, with the help of a grant, she revived her cosmetic practice in Mukachevo.

"During all this time, I received support from the locals, our displaced community, and charity organizations. So, I felt the need to give back and help others selflessly, too!" Natalia says.

At the Barrier-Free Salon, Natalia Chipko provides classic cosmetic treatments such as cleansing, facial massages, skincare tailored to individual needs, and waxing. She enjoys seeing clients without access to such services leave the salon overjoyed.

On a typical day, Natalia sees 4 to 5 clients, including women with cerebral palsy, single mothers displaced by the war, older women with disabilities, and internally displaced teenage girls from occupied territories or orphanages. She offers consultations to all, teaching them affordable self-care routines.

Being part of the Barrier-Free Salon has also inspired Natalia to expand her business with a focus on inclusion. She wrote a business plan to apply for a grant to make her office more accessible to people with limited mobility. "I was just a few points short," she says of the outcome but remains determined to apply again.

"It's essential that people with limited mobility, those in wheelchairs, and mothers with strollers can move freely and access any place they wish. Only then will they truly feel part of society, and we'll all see and hear each other better. Our project is also about dignity — every person deserves to feel worthy of everything," says Natalia.

She adds that the Barrier-Free Salon also serves as a vital reminder: anyone who is mobile today could lose that mobility tomorrow. Natalia recalls a story about a client of hers whose taxi driver refused a ride because she has limited mobility and uses a walker, even though it could easily fold and fit in the trunk.

"The lack of understanding, cruelty, and short-sightedness of some people really impacts me. It motivates me to show, by example, that accessibility is still a major issue in our society," says Natalia Chipko. "We need to highlight this and support each other because although we are all different, we are all equal."

What's next? Even more helpful solutions!

According to leader Ruslan Protsenko, the Barrier-Free Salon is a long-term initiative and will continue as long as the team remains motivated to keep it going.

"We share a common goal — to help those who need it," the project's founder.

He adds that the volunteers often go beyond just beauty services, assisting clients with other needs like purchasing medicine or groceries, installing handrails, or even fulfilling a dream to record a song in a studio for free.

The project has been funded entirely by volunteers so far.

"We'd love to expand, so we're drafting proposals to seek donor support," says Ruslan Protsenko. "Our vision for the future includes an accessible hub where people with limited mobility can receive free services. It would have a beauty salon, a café, and a recreation area for older people, people with disabilities, and children. We're also preparing for our upcoming project, Barrier-Free Inspector, where we'll assess towns for accessibility and offer advice on how communities can become barrier-free."

Mr. Protsenko notes that the team is always open to new members. Beauty professionals interested in joining or starting their team in their community are welcome to contact Barrier-Free Transcarpathia for support and guidance.