Janice Jordan, Minx Co-Founder and Master Minx, talks to Professional Beauty about Minx's breast cancer awareness initiative.
Q. Why did Minx decide to become active in breast cancer awareness and fundraising?
A. We became involved because my mom has breast cancer, and I was right by her side through the whole diagnosis and treatment. I would Minx my mom before every surgery, and she would get such a huge amount of attention from the doctors and nurses! Here was this lady, 86 or 87 years old, with metallic zebra or cheetah on her nails. It was a huge conversation starter and not only did it boost my mom’s spirits to have everyone talking about her nails, but it ensured the doctors and nurses interacted with her and remembered her, and saw her as not just another patient. I remember one night after surgery, my mom’s doctor, who was a woman, came to visit with us and we talked for over an hour mostly about Minx. It was a fun, safe topic that helped us all feel we could connect as women, and it helped get us through a very difficult time.
I hope in the future that we can donate Minx directly to hospitals or to nail technicians who want to Minx breast cancer patients. Minx is not a chemical or liquid and doesn’t give off vapors so it can be used in a hospital environment.
Q. How many Breast Cancer Awareness Minx are available right now, and what was your inspiration for their design?
A. We have three Breast Cancer Awareness designs; the pink ribbon on a metallic blue background, the pink ribbon on a silver background, and a pattern of pink ribbons on a silver background. We felt that this was the most easily recognizable and iconic symbol of breast cancer awareness.
Q. How can technicians order these Minx designs?
A. Like all Minx products, nail technicians can go online to www.MinxNails.com to order, or they can call customer service at 866-757-6469.
Q. Are there going to be any new designs or events to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October?
A. Yes! Minx will be issuing some new breast cancer awareness designs before October. Also, if there are nail technicians that plan to participate in fundraisers in order to donate to breast cancer awareness, we invite them to email us at info@MinxNails.com so that we can work with them.
Q. What percentage of sales is donated to Breast Cancer Awareness?
A. For each Minx-A-Cure breast cancer awareness design we sell, $5.00 is donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, www.bcrfcure.org. This organization was chosen by my mother – I made her review all the organizations and choose the one she felt was the best fit. After researching many groups extensively, she discovered that this organization allocates 90% of their raised money to research, so we are confident that the money raised is going to be used effectively.
In addition, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation was started approximately 15 years ago by Evelyn Lauder, the co-creator of the original pink ribbon launched in 1992 along with Alexander Penny, former editor of Self Magazine.
Q. How does breast cancer impact your daily life?
A. Well, my mom has breast cancer, and my sister is high risk and has to get monitored every six months, so it’s always kind of sitting on my shoulder. Where you are a patient or a family member of a patient, it affects you constantly and the worry never really goes away.
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Q. Please describe some of the emotions, thoughts and ideas that went through your mind when you or a loved one was diagnosed with breast cancer.
A. The first reaction for me was fear. I was scared, but then the second reaction was more like, “okay, now how are we going to get through this?” My mom and I tried to learn as much as we could so that we could participate in the decision making process and shape the treatment, and understand what was happening each step of the way.
Through the treatment, I was so impressed with my mom’s incredible attitude. She was laughing and teasing the doctors and nurses, and in that way, she also shaped her treatment in a very positive way.
Q. Why is it so important for nail care manufacturers and salons to raise money for breast cancer awareness?
A. I honestly don’t know of anyone who doesn’t know someone who has had breast cancer, or is dealing with breast cancer in some way. It is so common and affects so many lives! With a little bit of education, women can catch breast cancer much earlier and make a big difference.
In the beauty industry everyone knows that taking a bit of time for pampering can give a huge boost to a woman’s emotional health. In the same way, it’s incredibly important to take time out of our busy lives to evaluate our health and make sure that we aren’t ignoring a lump or unusual symptoms because we are too busy being a mom, a wife, an employee, a student, etc.
Q. Are there any other activities your company does to create awareness of breast cancer?
A. We participated in a couple of breast cancer walk-a-thons, but not as walkers. Instead, worked with local salons and set up an area near the finish line where we applied Minx-a-Cure for $5 per nail, and then donated all the proceeds to charity.
Q. What advice can you offer others who have breast cancer?
A. I would say to educate yourself so that you can be involved in getting yourself better. Also, stay positive, and find other people who have shared the experience so that you can play off of each other. My mom had to take a bus with other cancer patients in order to get to her chemotherapy treatments, and everyone banded together, baking cookies, sharing magazines, telling jokes and making it an enjoyable bus ride.
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