Locks of Love <3
On Sunday August 29, I went to a Locks of Love fundraiser with a friend. I had been wanting to cut my hair for a very long time. I had very long hair but I ALWAYS wore it up. Most people didn’t even realize I had long hair! This was the perfect opportunity to do it since it was for a great cause! When I arrived to the check in desk I almost chickened out. I was so nervous! I wasn’t sure if they were going to just put it in a ponytail and then cut that part off and then send me on my way, or if they were going to actually cut and style my hair. I brought a picture that I printed from the internet of a hairstyle that I liked so I could show them what I wanted.
I checked in and sat down. The lady cutting my hair was super friendly and she had been cutting hair for over 25 years. That was a relief! As she pulled my hair back in a ponytail I became super nervous. As she started to cut, my body began to have pricklies. She held up the ponytail to show me but I was too afraid to look at first! I finally opened my eyes and freaked out! I couldn’t believe how much hair!! She said it was a little over a foot of hair. Then she began to cut and style my hair. When it was done she showed me a mirror and it was so weird to see my hair in a different style! I couldn’t believe it! When I walked away I felt like I was naked on my back. I tried to run my fingers through my hair and it was surreal that it stopped short. When I took my first shower I used the same amount of shampoo and that was a mess. I have to remind myself that there isn’t that much hair anymore! I’m still getting used to it being short, even though I can put it in a tiny ponytail. I hope to learn some different ways to style it. Overall I’m super glad I did it and I really hope it makes a difference in a child’s life!!
Written By: Joey Ann Kempson
WHAT IS LOCKS OF LOVE?
“Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.” (Locks of Love)
Mission Statement:
“Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.” (Locks of Love.)
Source: http://www.locksoflove.org/
To learn more about this organization click HERE.
