During the Domestic Violence Awareness Month of October, the manufacturers of a new hair accessory are targeting a campaign to help end this “close to home” type of abuse. “Stop Abuse—No Excuse” is the mantra of Michelle Winder, who placed the “No More” domestic violence awareness symbol on the end of the new ScrewUp hair accessory she and her husband Bill are marketing with help from crowdfunding through Kickstarter.

“I designed ScrewUp because there was nothing out there to hold long, fine hair like mine,” Winder says. “And my daughter’s long, thick hair always seemed to slip out of whatever she was using. Now with ScrewUp, which is essentially a stick with a coiled screw in the center, you can literally ‘screw up’ your hair! It works on thin, thick, straight or curly hair. Then I realized that, if we could put the NO MORE ‘vanishing zero’ on the end, we would have a useful product that also could raise awareness—and funds—for ending domestic violence.”

A survivor of assault herself, Michelle aimed to make sure a “victim mentality” did not consume her. Instead, she decided to take control, and she became a 3rd Degree Black Belt and Certified World Martial Arts instructor, teaching self-defense and personal safety to women of all ages. She is also a first responder with SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) and DVRT (Domestic Violence Response Team). Bill, a Navy veteran and counselor, volunteers his time to mentor men who have been victims. Together they have created a ministry, dedicating their lives to healing victims of abuse. Profits from the ScrewUp tool help them to provide services at no charge to victims.

To contribute to their cause, go to kickstarter.com; for more information on carrying the product in your salon, go to screwupnow.com; and to learn about the beauty industry's "Cut It Out" campaign against domestic abuse, go to probeauty.org/cutitout.