Haircut for Locks of Love :)

Well, I did it! I took the plunge and had my hair cut for the first time in 3 years. I went to visit my mother for her 77th birthday recently in New England and I wanted her to see my hair (it was as long as it was when I was in high school.......many moons ago). So my sister found out that JCPenney cuts hair for Locks of Love and made me an appt. Following are a few pictures I thought you might be interested in seeing. Oh, by the way, they cut off 16 inches :) Yes, I had a few butterflies in my stomach, but I knew it was all for a very good cause. I would encourage anyone who has long hair and can donate, to do so. Happy Day, Kathy

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Last, but not least....#4

Good for you, Kathy!

Thanks Darius.....how the heck are you anyway...:) It's been a while....Happy Day, K

I like your haircut, way to go girl!!!! You have a good heart.
I bet you're gonna love taking care of your shorter hair. it looks real nice on you.

Thank you so much Pebble. I love it already. My hair was so long that my daughter had to brush it for me and braid almost everyday. When I started waking up with it wrapped all around me, I knew it was time.

Oh I'll do it again, because it was a good cause. I give vitamins the credit for my hair growing so fast and long. Every hairdresser tells me I have the healthiest hair they've ever seen and I have never colored or put a rinse in my hair (in almost 50 years). LOL. I have had 3 perms in my life.

My daughters color their hair all the time and I tell them they are ruining their hair. :) But they both have beautifully healthy hair as well, so go figure.

Anyhow, thanks again. Kathy :)

What kind are you use the vitamans? Your hair does look good and healthy.

This message was edited Mar 3, 2005 11:58 AM

Yay Kathy! I like the new cut too. My daughter is almost there. She wants to cut it off and still have hair to her shoulders so we are planning on doing it in June. Her's is about 2/3rds the way down her back. I will keep JC Penny's in mind too, because I was wondering who all did it for free.

They cut for free and charged me to style (I had it curled under)...seems they can't do it all for free anymore. Check with your local JCPenney or go to www.locksoflove.org and you can find the closest hairdresser to you. Also, they have to have at least 10 inches (some places up to 12) to cut off. They put it in a ponytail, cut it, and then braid it to send it off. They send it to Locks of Love.

I take Multivitamins, Vit. B complex, Flaxseed Oil, Calcium, Vit C 500 mg. everyday. If you are over 40, my doctor recommends all women take Vit. B complex.

Misty how was your first shower with short hair? when I have mine cut, which is all the time, you've seen how short my hair is, I always love that first time I wash it myself...it feels kinda strange and wonderful - just for the first time though, then it feels normal. Did you feel funny when you didnt have all that hair to wash? I bet you love it, It looks so nice on you, it frames your pretty face....

Enjoy your new "do"

You are so sweet Pebble :) Amazing you should say that about the shower because that was wonderful. I wasn't pulling 25 inch pieces of hair from all over my body, LOL. But it was like having a limb or something cut off. And when I brushed my hair, I wanted to go farther than I could but there was no hair! :) It's nice to be able to manage it and curl it under if I want or up...tee hee.

My "pretty face" was pretty tired in that picture and frustrated because my sister couldn't figure out how my camera worked. We had shoulder shots and forehead shots and ear shots before she got it right ha, ha

Wowee! Looks nice and some cancer fighter is going to have a gorgeous wig from your hair. It's a win-win. I paid for my haircut when I donated - didn't know it was an option. I'd have done it either way, and my hairdresser was very reasonably priced to start with. You going to be like me and get it shorter....and shorter....and shorter? I can't believe how short mine is now, but I love it (except for morning hair!).

I had heard that it takes 100 inches of hair to make one wig, but my hairdresser told me that I had enough hair that they may be able to make a wig for small child just from my hair. That did my heart good.

BTW, did anyone notice the "streak" down the tail I am holding? No, it's not blonde, but is a pretty thick gray streak I had/have. I had been likened to Elvira. LOL

I'm not sure if it will go shorter. I enjoy pulling it back out of my face and that was a must to be able to still wear a ponytail. Working at the farmers' market, I don't want any hair falling all over.

My family told me they liked it when my hair was real short, but for now, I like it like this. :)

That's AWESOME! Makes me want to grow mine out just to get it cut! :) What a great contribution!

Nicole

Thanks MM and yes I am over 40's so thank again.

My grandaughter donated hers last year, she was 7. She's letting it grow to do it again.

Paul

Kathy, You did a good thing and you look great with your new haircut!

Thank you everyone. I've also been doing Curves and have lost 13.25 inches Yippee. I'm working on a new me. :) Outside anyway, I'll always be the same inside.

Love your new 'do'. Make sure you leave your inside alone, you are one of the sweetest people I have ever met.
What did Ralph think of the haircut? Weird question, but can men donate their beards?
HUgs,
D

What a wonderful thing to do. Jo

I saw an article in the Pittsfield Paper when Misty was here....went looking for the picture to see if it was hers but can't find it. Awesome idea! Love the haircut, too

I should send the pictures to The Berkshire Eagle, never thought of that. I did, however, email them with a story to our local newspaper here in Brandenburg, KY. Maybe I will send along TBE. Wish I could have gotten to me you while in Pittsfield. I'll be back at the end of March, but not sure how much time we'll have. BTW, my stepmother said she goes to Misty Moonlight Diner often and loves it.

Thanks for the compliments. I don't think they take beards, ha, ha...well, now if they are 10 inches long, maybe.......does Warren have a long beard? I've never envisioned him with a beard.

Ralph thought it would be shorter, but was pleased. Everyone I've seen said they like it....

Dianne, you are too good to me. Still wish i could come and see you. BTW, they inspected my luggage (I had a note in my suitcase.) I had two big suitcases and don't you know they went through the one that had my dirty clothes in it~~~!!! They repack very well though, LOL.

Jo, Thank you, it made me feel real good to do it.

Happy Day, Kathy

That would be a really wirey wig made of beard hair! LOL! You really ought to send them your pictures - the more word's spread about Locks of Love, the better.

kathy,
Your post made me smile. Thankfully when i was going through treatment, i didnt have to have Chemo. When mom went through hers and lost her hair, the ACS offered her a wig, but she declined. She was more comfortable with scaves and hats.
Thanks for your gift!!
Jen

Jen, I just read your response and I have to say I have tears. It made me feel really good that you thanked me for what I did with my hair. I guess I did it knowing it was a worthy cause but never expecting a thank you in return.

I am so glad that I made you smile and Praise The Lord that all is well with you. How sad both you and your Mom endured this terrible disease. I count my blessings everyday that Cancer has not hit our family hard.

Many blessings to you and your family and thank you again. In His Love, Kathy

Kathy,

I just wanted to tell you, as a survivor, that its caring people like yourself that make our journies more bearable.

((( hugs))))
jen

jen (((((big hugs back))))) Kathy :)

We sent my DH's hair to Locks of Love, (somewhere there's an old thread here about it), and he's letting it grow out again. His hair grows so fast that this is the second 12" braid that he's had in 7 years. I must confess though that I kept the first one for sentimental value or just in case he ever needs a toupee! :o)

How long's it gotten now, Carol? I remember that thread about his haircut! :)

I wanted to clarify that when the ACS offered mom a wig, it was a synthetic one.
I believe Locks of love is for disadvantaged children under 18.

Jen, I think LOL might be for children, but I think it should be available to all who need it. Kathy

Kathy,
I agree, but can also understand that the cost involved prohibits it from being made available to everyone.
I read that it costs upwards of $5000. for a hairpiece (they dont call them wigs). There is a mold made of the childs head, measurement, etc....then the colors are blended and shipped off to be made. I think the whole process takes about 3 mths or so.
I dont think there is enough public knowledge of the program to warrant the cost of offering it to adults also. There are so many diagnosed with cancer each year.
Also, i think its important for children to be able to "blend in" with their peers and not look so obviously sick. Kids, and people, are awful when it comes to someone that looks different than they do.
My mom, on the other hand was a hoot when she was going through chemo. She had tons of hats embroidered. THe ones i remember said "bad hair day" "chemo sabe" "hare today, gone tomorrow"....they were so funny. When we'd go to the mall or whatnot, you'd see people looking at her like she had 3 heads. She was notorious for whipping the hat off and walking around in all her glory. Her mentality, "im a survivor, why should i care what they think". ....then off course the plastic boobs are a story for another day, lol
Take care
Jen

I think I would be with your Mom. I would wear the hats with sayings on them and be proud of the fact that I was survivor. What a great lady. I'd love to hear the other stories sometime. :) They are all stepping stones in our lives and important to remember. :) Many blessings, Kathy

P.S. I had no idea that it cost so much to make a "hairpiece". Seems there should be more crusading and fund raising for this. I'm going to check out their site and see what I can get started.

My friend's daughter had cancer when she was just 5 years old. Today she is a beautiful, intelligent, Christian woman who has the biggest heart and such a sweetie, she is now 23. She had a Whilms (sp?) tumor in her kidney. In any event, I used to go with her and her Mom when she had her chemo treatments. I would be on one side of her and her mother on the other and we would be rubbing her back and her head and holding the bucket while we got so sick from the chemo. She was and is so strong.

She used to wear hats all the time, she had a hat tree full of them, depending on her mood that day. She got to go to the White House and meet Pres. Bush (the first one) and she has some awesome pictures of her and her family in the Oval office. It was published in Life Magazine. She had her white hat on that day :) I'm not sure, but think Make A Wish made that possible for her.

She is a testimony to her faith, for sure. :) Kathy

Thank you for sharing that. That would be too cool to meet the prez!!

Just got back from moms, shes cleaning out her closets and called me to go through the stuff...woohoo, its like shopping at dilliards, but for free, lol. Whatever i don't take goes to the Gooodwill. She had a slew of hats that she was giving away and i told her to wait until after my appt Thursday. Who knows, i may still need them.

I was on their site earlier, but didnt save the link. you can do a good search for "locks of love" and it'll bring it up. It has a wealth of info.

I have a guy friend that every 3 years he makes a hair donation in memory of his mom. She died of cancer when he was younger and that seems to make it easier on him.

This is a great thread,
Jen

http://locksoflove.org