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Cynthia Eccles seldom makes it to a salon for a manicure unless a relative can drive her from her Capitol Heights senior-living home.

So when Eccles, 61, a St. Paul Senior Living Apartments resident, made the acquaintance Saturday of Bladensburg High cosmetology student Jazmine Williams and a bottle of pink pearl nail polish, it was Eccles' lucky day.

"In fact, I'm going out to a retirement party tonight, so this was right on time for me today," Eccles said.

Eccles was one of many seniors at the Capitol Heights apartment community who received the full — and free — salon treatment just minutes away from their rooms as part of the Prince George's County Police Department's "Extreme Senior Makeover" event.

Jazmine, a 17-year-old junior from Lanham, was one of nine Bladensburg High students who came to give free facials, manicures, pedicures and new hairdos. She said she does not work with the senior population regularly.

"She was really funny," Jazmine said of Eccles. "It was a different experience than what I'm used to. I should come back more often."

Prince George's police officers Nicole Hubbard and Belinda Nichols of the department's Community Services Division came up with the idea in November. Both women wanted to bridge the communication gap between teens and seniors, who may normally be afraid to talk to youth. The division plans police-sponsored events for youth and seniors countywide.

"My dream is to actually take this countywide and spotlight local business owners," Hubbard said.

Through December and January, both officers searched for participants. Nichols knew about Bladensburg's two-year cosmetology program and contacted instructor Lynne Holland in November. They both settled on St. Paul because there was already a hair salon inside the community center, Hubbard said.

Holland did a classroom lesson on volunteerism prior to the event which she said was a chance for teens service a population that may not be able to make it out to a salon like they used to. Holland brought manicure and pedicure supplies from Bladensburg High and Ken Williams of Action Beauty Supply in Capitol Heights donated hair salon supplies, she said.

"I think it's just a fantastic thing," Holland said. "It's about the kids. It's about the experience. They're getting a chance to talk to older women."

Irene Butts, St. Paul's wellness director, she said she liked the idea behind bridging the seniors and teenagers, and James Wise, senior cosmetologist at the St. Paul's Senior Living Beauty Salon and Spa, was more than happy to open his salon space up to Bladensburg students. Thirty-eight of the 225 residents signed up for services, Hubbard said.

"I'm excited because our seniors have responded in a big fashion," Butts said. "I wasn't expecting it because of the weather. I'm just excited and enthusiastic about their participation."

Bladensburg High senior Laquanda Glenn, 18, of Landover, performed manicures and pedicures and said all she is looking for is a "thank you."

"We're helping the senior citizens for what they can't really do daily," Glenn said.

E-mail Natalie McGill at nmcgill@gazette.net.