Silicon Valley is known for high-tech and supercomputers; it’s also home to a high-energy superhuman, Ray Solnik. Ray is a Great Clips franchisee who independently owns and operates 12 Great Clips® salons in California, and for the past five years, he has also been on a mission to care for chronically unsheltered people through his nonprofit organization, Seeds of Hope Silicon Valley (SoHSV).  

Ray’s aim is to build community, offer hope, and restore the dignity of his unhoused neighbors. He is keenly aware of the complexity of homelessness and the needs that span beyond shelter, including connection, purpose, and self-care—like haircuts. Recently, Ray’s salon team delivered the 1,000th haircut through SoHSV’s Haircuts of Hope program. To mark this milestone, we sat down with Ray and Tina, his general manager, to learn about SoHSV and why it’s so important to create a salon culture that values giving back. 

You founded Seeds of Hope Silicon Valley (SoHSV) five years ago. What was your inspiration? 

Ray: I founded Seeds of Hope Silicon Valley with a neighbor, to provide permanent housing for homeless people in a safe and welcoming community. Our solution is based on the Community First Village model in Austin, Texas. It’s an approach that is being replicated across the country as possibly the best method to resolve homelessness in our nation today. SoHSV is one of dozens of organizations proving out the model across the country. While our geography is focused on Silicon Valley, our contribution is of national relevance.  

You also own and operate a healthy portfolio of Great Clips franchised salons in the Bay Area and along the Northern California coast. You found a way for your two endeavors to unite? 

Ray: Yes! Through SoHSV, we provide homeless people with free haircuts at four different locations. We call the program Haircuts of Hope. It’s a small but important way to improve the lives of homeless people and it also helps us get out the word about our mission.

Your team delivered the 1,000th haircut a few months ago. What did that milestone mean to you? 

Ray: The 1,000th haircut was a rewarding reminder of how many people we have impacted! 

How have your salon teams responded to the opportunity to get involved with SoHSV?  

Ray: Great Clips is a very caring culture, and a giving community. Employees at my salons love that we do this work. They enjoy participating! I believe customers appreciate it, too. They can see that we are a part of this community and genuinely try to give back.  

How has your work with the homeless impacted your stylists?  

Ray: The work we do for our homeless neighbors allows us to live out our values and provides a heartwarming way for us to spend time together. It also helps us all appreciate what we have.  

Tina: For me, it has transformed my everyday job into something bigger than just cutting hair. It has provided a chance to give back to people who are facing incredibly difficult times, whether they’re battling illness, experiencing homelessness, or going through personal hardships. A fresh haircut might seem small, but it can restore confidence, dignity, and a sense of normalcy for someone who needs it most. I’m proud to work for a company that prioritizes giving back. It has motivated me to be not just a stylist, but a positive force in the Bay Area.  

What’s one of the biggest surprises you’ve encountered along the way?  

Ray: Our homeless friends are often incredibly funny and intelligent. It’s a great reminder to us all: keep an open mind and refrain from making quick judgments! 

Tina: Before being involved in “Haircuts of Hope,” I saw my role as a stylist primarily as a service provider. Now, I realize the power of hair care as an act of compassion. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about connection, empathy, and healing. This program has reinforced why I love my job—because I can make a tangible difference in someone’s life beyond the salon chair.  

How do your homeless customers feel after receiving a haircut? 

Ray: One of our guests said he noticed that after we cut his hair, people don't move to the other side of the sidewalk – or the other side of the street – to avoid him. It makes him feel a lot more human. Our stylists have also commented how our homeless customers seem to leave the chair with a little more bounce in their step and often, a smile! 

How has community service impacted the culture of your salons?  

Ray: At our salons, we talk a lot about working from our hearts. Haircuts of Hope reinforces that message, making it very real.  

Over the course of my career, I’ve worked with and led many companies that value charity and philanthropy. At Great Clips, the level of emotional connection to our community service is at a whole different level. Customers feel it, and so do our hairstylists. Whether we’re cutting hair for a homeless person or giving a free haircut to someone battling cancer, Great Clips is invested in making the world a better place.  

 

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All Great Clips® salons are independently owned and operated by third party franchisees. Franchisees, not Great Clips, Inc., are responsible for all hiring and personnel matters at their individual salons.