I haven’t had a “real” haircut in about 10 years. It was pretty long. I’ve been thinking about getting it cut because I’m tired of the bother of messing with it in the morning, getting it all over the house, getting it caught in creeper wheels when I work on my cars, getting it in my eyes and mouth. Also, I am going to start riding the excercise bike regularly again to lose some weight, and it will be so much easier to work up a good sweat and rinse off real fast and get back to important stuff in the evening. And the wife dragged home a goofy-ass above-ground pool for her and the kid, so if I ever plan to get in it, short hair is easier to keep out of the filter and take care of when I get out.
Someone turned me on to “Locks for Love”. I donated my hair (I think it was about 16 inchs maybe) to be used to make hairpieces for underpriviledged kids with medical hair loss.
I look better, feel better, some kid gets a rug and I got a free haircut!
Some deals are too good to be true!
Now watch some poor cancer paitent get turned down for a job when he fails the drug hair test! (just kiddin’! I’m “clean”)
Good for you! That sounds excellent I keep my hair covered (religious thing) but it’s gotten pretty long over the years and I’m finally going to chop it off too. I wanted to donate to Locks for Love, but I couldn’t remember the name, thanks!
When I was nine, my best friend died of bone cancer. She remained positive through the treatments, but her hair loss was devastating to her. She was my best friend, and I loved her, but she wasn’t a pretty girl. Her one beauty had been her silky brown hair. When the last of it fell out, she wept piteously.
A local organization gave her a wig, but it was ghastly. She cried even harder when it was shown to her, and prefered to remain inside where no one could see her in it.
Finally, she got a real hair wig. It was lovely, much like her own hair. For the first time in ages, I could see her as she once was, though by this time, she could no longer walk. She spent hours styling that wig, and was very proud of it when she was out in public. “I look like a normal girl!” she said to me, happily. She really enjoyed that last summer, I think, even though she was in so much pain. She was out and about in her “new hair,” enjoying the sunshine.
At her funeral, she was wearing that wig. Even though the pain of her loss was great, I had to smile when I saw her in it.
I’ll never know who gave her hair for the wig. I wish I could tell them how happy they made my friend, if only for a short while. Without it, I don’t think she would have been willing to participate in all of the activities which gave her so much joy in her last few months.
I donated my hair last year, too. And I’m in the process now of growing it out to donate again – it should be long enough in about 4 months or so. It really is a great feeling!
FYI for those who are interested, it’s “Locks of love” and their website with instructions on how to donate can be found here.
As I was driving home, I had the air on. My ears got cold! It dawned on me at that moment, I could actually put the top down on my Fiat and drive around without my head becoming a disaster area! I haven’t done that in years!
I’ll work on those pictures for you, hilly queen Or maybe I’ll just come see you with a “before” photo!
She told me she loved me like a brother. She was from Tennessee, hence the Joy!
Wow, that is such an unselfish thing to do. I wish I could have done, or could do something like that.
When I was in highschool, I had hair halfway down my back, and I am a natural redhead, well, dark strawberry blond maybe, regardless, it is a rare colour to have naturally. I got it cut really short one summer. At the time I’d never heard of donating or selling your hair, but I wish now that I had checked into it.
If I could ever tolerate long hair again, then got it cut, I would definitely be a donor.
A little over three years ago I donated around 18" of strawberry-blonde hair to Locks of Love. My hair is back down to almost waist-level(which is extremely long when you consider I am 6’ 2" tall and have a very long torso) and I’m considering donating another 18-20" braid soon(that would take my hair to ~ collar-length). They’re a good organization and some of the before-after pictures are truly amazing. It does so much for the spirits of cancer patients to have a good looking wig. Several relatives on my wife’s side of the family have undergone chemotherapy so I’ve got some first-hand experience of how this can boost a person’s self-esteem.
Gato, as someone who has tried to promote organ donation around here, I must commend your actions on the strongest possible terms. The profound loss of self-esteem and brutal teasing that pediatric chemo patients often go through can literally complicate their recovery.
I donated 15 inches of my hair in Feb. of this year. I started growing it out my freshman year with the goal of cutting it at the end of my senior year for locks of love, my little sister donated about 13 inces around a year ago, my friend is doing the grow out untill a senior thing like I did, and a guy in my class also grew his out and cut it for locks of love.
I just want to say to say congrats! I know for me anyways it felt great to help out someone. Have a wonderful weekend!
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned the Simpsons mini-episode (treehouse of horror ? I think) called “Hell toupee” Snake is executed, and Homer gets his hair and becomes homocidal.
I sometimes wonder about the kid that got my hair.
To gatopescado and All Who Have Donated Hair to Locks of Love:
Mahalo Nui Loa!!!
I, too, donated my hair, but it was not long and does not need to be. Please see their website (posted earlier) as “Locks of Love” accepts shorter hair and it is “sold” to raise funds for additional supplies to make the wigs.
In July 1998, I challenged my fellow Kiwanians in southern CA to raise $3000 in 30 days for our World-Wide Service Project, Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), and I would shave my head. We raised $6,200 and off it came!
Seems people, particularly men, love to see women with no hair. In November 1999, I challenged the North American Chair people of Kiwanians for IDD to raise $32,000 before dinner and I would shave my head. We raised over $33,000 in 15 minutes!!!
When I shaved my head at our next meeting in April 2000, it was sent to Locks of Love (LoL). You don’t have to have a lot…
And while we are on the subject, why don’t all us Dopers organize a “hair-raising” party in our communities for LoL? Get a beauty shop to agree to give free haircuts on one particular day if they donate to LoL, get lots of great press…everyone wins!
