I love my hair. It’s a cloak of confidence when I hate my outfit, or when my skin is acting up. Bad day? That can be turned around in an instant by hair that’s on fleek.
I’m attached to it, like many people are, but it’s also not hard for me to give it up every few years to be crafted into hairpieces for children with medical hair loss. You see, my hair is thick, it grows like a weed, and the physical – and emotional – “weight off my shoulders” is a welcome change and a healthy dose of perspective. When I consider the children facing painful medical treatments and losing their hair (all while trying to be normal and fit in), it feels like the least I can do to provide some comfort.
Delia’s Before/After (Photo credit: Leah Hunter)
So when it was time to make the cut this year (my fourth time donating), I decided to call on friends, family, and strangers to join me for a holiday hair drive benefiting Locks of Love. RandomActsofLipstick.com partnered with Saulino Smith in Santa Monica, who generously donated their salon and stylists for the event last week, and offered free cuts (10+ inches) and styling to participants. We also sent attendees home with gift bags of maintenance products from Bumble and Bumble, Shu Uemura, and Oribe.
Gloria Post-Cut With Her Stylist, Laura
The turnout was impressive, yielding over 15 ponytails that are currently on their way to Locks of Love. The day was filled with nerves-turned-excitement and lots of hair flipping. Strangers posed together for pictures with their new #shorthairdontcare and social media buzz spread far and wide encouraging others to also donate their strands for the cause. Two participants from the east coast even chopped and sent their hair via snail mail to grow our collection.
A stream of feel-good vibes flowed through everyone in attendance that day; an energy we hope to recreate annually with continued Random Acts of Lipstick hair donation drives.
Gift Bag for Participants
Want to help? Start growing your hair out for next year’s drive, or if you’re ready to donate now, explore these orgs that accept hair donations: Locks of Love, Pantene Beautiful Lengths, and Children with Hair Loss.
