Salon Pajama Party to Benefit AIDS Event

Polka dots and slippers are welcome as the Salon Paul/Florent kicks off its annual fund-raising drive for AIDS Walk Los Angeles with a pajama party Saturday.

Six PJ-wearing stylists plan to see about 90 clients at $38 a haircut to raise money for the 14th annual AIDS Walk on Sept. 27, salon owner Paul McKay said.

Customers are also encouraged to wear their pajamas.

Although this will be the first “cut-a-thon” held by the salon, McKay said his small business has contributed about $95,000 in the AIDS Walk in four years.

This year’s goal is $30,000.

When his business partner, Florent Cossete, died of AIDS complications six years ago, McKay began recruiting walkers for the six-mile trek.

“At first it was a method of grieving for me and friends of Florent, but now it’s become more than that,” McKay said. AIDS has “hit my industry really hard, and that’s one of the reasons we do this every year.”

McKay said the number of walkers has increased from about 100 in 1994 to more than 350 last year. That, he said, places the salon team among the top 10 fund-raising groups in the annual walk.

McKay is hoping this year will be just as successful and plans to begin registering as many walkers as possible at Saturday’s fund-raiser.

The pajama and haircutting party will run from 4 p.m. to midnight at the Salon Paul/Florent, 12080 Ventura Place. To make a haircut appointment for the event, call (818) 980-3166.