It’s getting harder to justify spending money right now. Which usually means giving it away drops even further down the list.
A Manly salon is trying to close that gap this May, turning something as routine as a haircut into a direct contribution to causes that need it.
From Monday, 18 May, Salon Purpose will run its annual “With Love” campaign. For every appointment booked, $25 is donated on the client’s behalf.
When you book at the popular hairdressers in Rialto Lane, they make the $25 donation from your bill without any additional cost to you. And you get to choose where it goes.
“We know people are more mindful about spending right now, and the need in the world can feel like a lot,” founder Nicki Ranatawake says.
“This campaign is a way to do something meaningful, through something as simple as your regular hair appointment. There’s a reason we are called Salon Purpose. We are doing what we love, but having a greater function really puts a kick into our work ethos.”
Across its first six years, the salon and its clients have now contributed more than $120,000 to charitable causes locally and overseas.
Each year, the team selects a mix of causes that reflect both local need and global challenges. In 2026, clients can choose where their $25 goes.
One stream supports safe housing for Australian families experiencing homelessness. Another funds maternity care for women and babies in Uganda, including access to essential support during childbirth.
Closer to home, the campaign also backs domestic violence healing programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, focused on long-term recovery rather than short-term fixes.
This year’s campaign also lines up with the salon’s sixth anniversary.
Ranatawake started Salon Purpose during COVID after nearly 20 years in hairdressing, first as a small backyard setup in Allambie before moving into its current home in Manly. What began as a one-woman operation has grown into a 19-person team, with purpose still at the centre.
On its own, $25 doesn’t feel like much. But across a full book of appointments, it starts to look different.
“Our team feels deeply connected to the impact we are creating,” Ranatawake says.
“They understand the causes, and that carries through in every appointment. Our clients feel that too, and it is why the impact of this campaign has grown every year.”
The “With Love” campaign runs for two weeks from Monday, 18 May, and appointments tend to fill quickly.
If you were already planning to book in, it’s a straightforward way to make it count for something beyond the mirror. And if you’ve been meaning to book an appointment soon, this might be the extra nudge.
Check out the salon or book an appointment via their website or social media channels.
