Volunteers clip hair for charity

Things got a little hairy at the Phoenix Children's Hospital last Monday, but that was just what the folks at Locks of Love had in mind.

Forty-eight volunteers showed up to donate at least 10 inches of hair apiece at the event. Even more came with their ponytails precut, which were also donated to the charity.

In the end, the event netted 1,735 inches of hair in the form of 145 pony tails.

Locks of Love, based out of Lake Worth, Fla., relies on these donations to provide custom-made hair pieces for financially disadvantaged children who are 18 and younger and suffer from long-term medical hair loss.

One of the donors at this year's event was Melissa Moore, a Horizon Community Learning Center High School English teacher. She said she heard about it through former students who donated their own hair after a fellow classmate was diagnosed with cancer.

"My hair wasn't long enough last time to do it along with (the kids)," Moore said. "I'm glad I get to do it this time."

The stylists at Salon Estique of Phoenix were the ones who volunteered their time and supplies to give free clips and updated ‘do's to the donors.

This is the second year Salon Estique co-owner Brenda Barnaby and her crew have volunteered their services to Phoenix Children's Hospital. She said last year's hair drive collected more than 700 inches of hair.

"We are able to give more cuts this year," Barnaby said. "We spearheaded the operation last year and once we saw how excited everyone was and that it was for such a great cause, we knew we would be doing it again."

According to Locks of Love communications director Lauren Kukkamaa, it takes from six to 10 ponytails to construct one hair prostheses that could range from a $3,500 to $6,000 retail price.

"These were some amazing results," she said. "What (Phoenix Children's and Salon Estique) did is exactly what Locks of Love is all about."

Kukkamaa said donated hair is constructed into a hair piece that uses vacuum-fit technology, which replaces the need for tape or glue. The hair prostheses cannot be removed by anyone but the wearer and can be kept on in any situation.

"(The hair prostheses) is literally suctioned on their head," Kukkamaa said.

Contact writer: (480) 898-7916 or troemhild@ahwatukee.com.