Sisters Lydia and Vanessa Arce of Beauty Box give their customers gorgeous hair and fresh makeup. But for the gals of Homeboy Industries, a downtown gang intervention program, the Arces makeup and haircutting services are free. Vanessa was a teen mom but managed to graduate from beauty school and start Beauty Box from scratch. On one Tuesday a month, they close the shop and along with childhood friend Erica Guevara, they each give one girl a makeover with subtle color and a more approachable look. After their Beauty Box transformation, the homegirls are ready to look for work. Often when they get a job, the girls return and pay full price to show their appreciation for their new looks. On October 1, a new, bigger location will open near Chinatown, offering natural manicures and pedicures. 1515 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. (213) 250-1515.

—Sophia Kercher

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