Imagine you are a child who just lost her hair during chemo. You would feel embarrassed which would only add to the suffering of dealing with cancer. With Locks of Love, you can make a difference in the life of a cancer patient one ponytail at a time.

I have donated hair to Locks of Love twice, and I am not going to lie, it’s hard to watch your beautiful hair get chopped off. The first time I donated was in third grade. I donated hair again last year after the musical. Two things inspired me to donate my hair: my great uncle died of leukemia and the recently-released movie “Les Miserables” featured Fantine, who sold her hair so she could send money to her daughter.

Looking for a quick cut, I went into Great Clips. I had not had great experiences there in the past and this time was no different. After the ponytail of the required ten inches was hacked off, the stylist kept chopping until my hair hung barely passed my jaw. Now, a year later, it hangs past my shoulders. Hair grows six inches a year, that’s half an inch a month. If you use anti-snap serum and Moroccan or Argon oil you can stay away from the salon to grow your hair back.

Should you decide to donate to Locks of Love, keep in mind that most hairdressers cannot send your hair to Locks of Love. You must do it yourself, following the easy instructions provided on the Locks of Love website.

Just remember to calculate how much you want to give and check the requirements. Another thing to consider is asking your stylist to cut off three ponies- one on each side of your face and one at the base of your neck, instead of just one to ensure you won’t loose too much extra hair.

Donating to Locks of Love is a life-changing experience. You don’t just donate your hair, you donate confidence.