Community Corner

​'The Drew Barrymore Show’ To Feature Bayville Salon

Stylists from Hair Fantasy will be featured in an episode of "The Drew Barrymore Show" on Monday, Sept. 27.

Stylists from Hair Fantasy will be featured in an episode of "The Drew Barrymore Show” on Monday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m.
Stylists from Hair Fantasy will be featured in an episode of "The Drew Barrymore Show” on Monday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. (Courtesy of Michele Fury)

BERKELEY, NJ — Hair Fantasy in Bayville has been offering free makeovers to people who have fallen on hard times this past year, and Drew Barrymore took notice.

Owner Michele Fury and stylists from the salon will be interviewed during a segment of "The Drew Barrymore Show” on Monday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. on CBS.

Fury said the episode will focus on different ways that people are giving back in their communities. "The Drew Barrymore Show" connected with Fury after the show’s producers found an article about the salon’s offer. Read more: Bayville Salon Continues To Help People 'Push Forward'

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“It feels good to make people happy," Fury told Patch on Thursday. "What is one box of color? It really just takes some of our time."

When Hair Fantasy reopened its doors during the pandemic in summer of 2020, Fury realized that many of her clients were not pampering themselves as often.

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Some people lost their jobs or took on less hours at work to stay home with their kids for virtual learning, losing income that once covered the cost of their haircare.

To help people who are struggling to reenter the workforce or anyone who had a tough time this past year, Fury has been donating 10 percent of her sales to cover the cost of hair dye and makeup for them.

Fury, who has worked in salons for 26 years, said she understands what many people are going through and wants to help them get back on their feet.

The salon recently gave a makeover to a woman whose sister passed away and is now looking after her nephew.

“I can empathize with what she’s going through. When you’re taking care of someone sick, you forget about yourself,” Fury said.

“Just her trying to sit there, trying to figure out she was going to do each step of the hair color, trying to fit it in her budget because she just started her job — I said, ‘We’re going to start it for you,’ and she couldn’t believe it.”

The cost of hair dye and makeup for her would have totaled about $260.

Fury has been paying it forward after her own salon struggled throughout the pandemic amid closures and capacity restrictions. Hair Fantasy had only been open for six months when Fury had to close the salon in March 2020.

The salon is still recovering from the closures, Fury said.

“We’ve been slowly getting busier. Our regulars are coming back and we’re getting new clients,” she said. “It’s hard because we’re so far behind we have to catch up.”

Hair Fantasy is still striving to give free makeovers to two people each month. Anyone interested should email hairfantasymd@gmail.com to set up an appointment.

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