Cutting hair for a cause
Published: February 11, 2005
Jetta Cook used to have long hair. It was straight and blonde, falling just below her waist so that when she sat it skimmed the edge of her chair. She could yank it up in ponytails, twist it through chopsticks or braid it into buns. It was spectacular hair. The kind of hair that every girl would envy and every boy would admire - so Jetta decided to give it away.
In one sweep of the scissors 7-year-old Jetta, a second-grader at Eastham Elementary, donated all 13 inches of her blonde strands to Locks of Love - a non-profit organization that produces custom-fitted, real hair wigs for financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term or permanent medical hair loss.
“I wanted to do something nice and help some kids who don’t have hair,” said Jetta, touching her new shorter do’ that falls just above her shoulders. “I have nice, thick hair and I could spare some for the kids that need it.”
Founded in 1997, Locks of Love receives more than 3,000 ponytails from donors each week, 80 percent of which are from children. Today, the charity produces more than 1,000 new hairpieces each year, a service that saves their clients nearly $6000.
“Some of our kids have never had hair and will never have hair,” said Amy Weeks, program development coordinator at Locks of Love. “This is a life changing gift and it is amazing how much it can change a child’s life.”
All hair donations measuring 10 inches or more are mailed along with the donation form to Florida and sorted by length. Boxes of hair are then shipped to wig manufacturers who remove unusable strands. Each hairpiece requires six to 10 ponytails and can take up to six months to construct.
“When anyone comes in with long hair looking for a shorter style I recommend they donate their pony tail to Locks of Love,” said Marcia Cronk, stylist and owner of Cut Loose Salon in Eastham, who recognized the importance of such organizations after a friend was diagnosed with leukemia. “Seeing what a difference that hairpiece made was incredible.”
In an effort to encourage Locks of Love donations, local salons such as Cut Loose and stylist Rose Derow of Free Stylen’ Salon, also in Eastham offer discounts and free services for anyone interested in cutting their hair for the cause.
“Locks of Love really gave me the guts to cut my hair,” said Mary Hake, Jetta’s mother who donated 13-inches of her hair to Locks of Love two years ago. “This is a very personal gift to give because this hair has been with you for so long. I hope Jetta and my donations will inspire others to do their part in making the world a better place.”
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