Locks of Love

Today I get to mark another item off my Life List - donating my hair to Locks of Love. 

As defined by the official website:

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 has lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The protheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

Here are a few pictures from the Locks of Love website of recipients of this wonderful organization:

I have always wanted to give to this organization, since I was blessed with more than a full head of hair. We've always joked that my hair could make about three wigs because it is so thick. I've never really had my hair long enough to make a donation though...until now.

Here is a before picture, taken before I left this morning. Please ignore how unkempt it is - my hair is naturally wavy, and this is definitely a rough photo!

This haircut was probably the most emotional haircut I've ever had. I can't imagine what it must be like to actually have the person receiving your donation with you when you get it cut. All my ladies can empathize with me - it took me two years to grow my hair this long, and let me tell you - it's a little shocking how fast that pony tail comes off.

And yes, I'll admit, I cried like a little baby. Fortunately I had my wonderful friend Samantha there to give me moral support, since you could hear an audible gasp go through the salon as it came off.

I didn't get any "during" pictures, but here is one of the cut hair.

Twelve inches, not straightened.

Can we please note that my hair was thinned about six months
ago...and it's still ONE INCH in diameter? No wonder my head
feels lighter!

Once I realized I was ready to have "the chop", I started looking for short hair styles that I like. Which is usually very difficult for me, since not many hair styles accommodate thick, wavy hair. However, I almost immediately came across some pictures of Jennifer Nettles from one of my husband's favorite bands - Sugarland. And I fell in love with her beautiful hair. Here are the pictures I took with me to the salon:

And now....drumroll please.... the result!

(Please forgive the blatant bathroom-photo-taking.)

I'm also incapable of taking a serious picture of myself. 

I'd say my stylist did a pretty good job, don't you?

And so that's that! I feel practically bald and will probably keep running my hands through my hair wondering where the other twelve inches are. But to think that my hair will finally be able to help someone in need is so gratifying, and I highly recommend donating!

For more information on donating to Locks of Love, go here. This goes over the rules and common questions you might have, and also answers the question of how I was able to donate even though my hair is layered.

I'm off to celebrate being able to cross another thing off my Life List. Happy Saturday everyone!