HHS sophomore donates hair to Locks of Love
By JENNIFER WILSON
News editor
When Hillsboro High School sophomore Gina Andrews got her hair cut last Friday, it wasn't just for a shorter, cooler summer 'do.
Andrews cut off 12 inches of her brown hair to send to Locks of Love, an organization that collects donated hair and forms it into wigs for needy children who've lost their hair due to a medical condition.
Although the program is for kids under 18, it's not just for cancer patients, according to the Web site www.locksoflove.org. It's for those with long-term or permanent hair loss due to other diseases or injuries such as burns.
Andrews had been thinking about donating to Locks of Love for about a year.
"I just thought that would be cool," she said.
She read about the program through a newspaper article that highlighted the organization. And she also remembered going into wig shops when her mom, Sally, was fighting cancer. She saw the children's wigs and noticed that the hair was really short and not very stylish, she said.
So Andrews decided to take the plunge and cut off her own long locks for a good cause. On Friday, she headed for Jeanne Penner's hair salon and got a foot of hair cut off her head.
Locks of Love has very specific guidelines for the hair, Andrews said. It must be completely dry, at least 10 inches long, and gathered into a ponytail. Then it has to be sealed in a plastic bag and mailed in a padded envelope.
So what was it like seeing 12 inches of hair just cut from your head?
Andrews' reaction: "Wow, that's a lot of hair!"
The change was pretty big, considering that Andrews hadn't had short hair since elementary school. Before Friday, her last haircut was in eighth grade — two and a half years ago. Now she's got a layered bob.
But she waited until the school play and prom was over, and now was the right time.
The wigs go to children who couldn't normally afford them — the wigs can cost up to $3,000 each, according to the Web site. It takes between ten and 15 ponytails to make one wig, Andrews said.
Some people have asked Andrews if it feels weird knowing that someone else will be "wearing" her hair
"It's not that big of a deal," she said. Besides, it will always grow back.
