How to Make a Child's Day; My Experience Donating to Locks of Love

It's always been in the back of my head, literally. My hair grows like a weed. So much so that in elementary school I earned the nickname "wig woman." I've had long, thick hair the majority of my life. On the few occasions that I primp, preen, curl and style it to its full potential it looks nice, but the majority of the time it finds itself swept back and secured in a ponytail.

One ponytail day a few weeks ago, I decided that I'd make a child's day. I called my local hair salon to schedule an appointment for a haircut. I usually go in for a trim but this time I decided to go for it. I asked the gal on the phone what I would need to do if I wanted to donate my tresses to Locks of Love, an organization that collects hair donations to create hairpieces so children may have natural, realistic hair, versus synthetic wigs that can sometimes look unnatural. She told me to come in and they'd take care of the entire process including the haircut, the submission forms and mailing the tresses.

Moments later I found my routine ponytail as the center of attention. It was now being combed, measured and discussed. It's never been so popular! I was asked why I'd ever cut off such long pretty hair. I was told how difficult it is to grow such thick hair.

It took several snips to make way through my ponytail. As the hairdresser sawed her way through the hair, she jokingly reminded me, "Can you just imagine? Some little girl will be running around with your hair now! She will be so happy! You just made some kid's day!"

Moments later a horsetail was laid on the counter in front of me. I never did size up the beast, but I would guess it measured in at ten inches or so. I tossed my head around to find that my hair just graced my shoulders. This was something I hadn't see for at least 15 years. It was short.

But, it wasn't as short as bald; which is what a child faces who can't grow any hair. A common misconception about the Locks of Love donation program is for whom the donations are intended. As I talk to friends and family, I find that everyone thinks it is for children who have lost their hair due to cancer and its treatments. Since most cancer patients will have the ability to re-grow their hair after they complete medical treatments, they are often not the recipients of the hair prosthetics. Most Locks of Love recipients are scalp burn patients and children with alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease) who don't have the ability to grow hair naturally.

After doing some research on the Internet, I have found accounts from families who have purchased the hairpieces created by donations made to Locks of Love who say their child has a new found sense of freedom. They no longer feel singled out because they look different from their peers. They no longer have to feel self conscious about their lack of hair and they can finally take back their childhood.

So, is it your turn to make a child's day? Start by calling your local salon to see if they participate in the Locks of Love program. The salon I went to offered to do my haircut for free since I was donating to a non-profit charity. Your ponytail needs to be a minimum of 8-10 inches long, clean and healthy.

And there is one last requirement. You need to have the desire to make a child smile. Accepting that you can instill confidence in a child that may feel shy about looking in the mirror is the first step. Then, put that hair up in a ponytail one last time, take a deep breath and make a child's day!