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Hair today, gone tomorrow: Students
make the cut for a good cause
By Kenzie Lawlor
May 7, 2009 | From having hair to the middle of the
back cut up to your ears. That's what happened when
Utah State University students decided to donate their
hair for Aggie Locks; a service project April 9.
Project coordinator, senior and USU Ambassador Jamila
McFarland, said she wanted to leave a mark on the University.
After a 4-year scholarship got McFarland through school,
she felt it was her responsibility. She wanted to perform
strictly service as her way of giving back after so
much was given to her. When a friend's mother found
out she had pancreatic cancer and was to lose her hair
while undergoing chemotherapy, McFarland cut and donated
her hair. That's when McFarland thought of Aggie Locks.
The first annual Aggie Locks hair cutting event was
held in the Taggart Student Center International Lounge.
McFarland recruited two private stylists and three local
salons, Kakoi, Valhalla, and The Kutting Edge, to cut
any students hair for free for donations. The only requirements?
Participants must cut at least eight inches of hair
off.
Lindsey Lawlor, a first-time donor, cut 9 inches of
hair.
"I was so scared! It gave me anxiety a few days before
the actual cut and while she was cutting it, I felt
sick to my stomach," said Lawlor.
Lawlor said her stylist said it was OK to cry.
"But I toughened up and refused to be a crying diva,"
laughed Lawlor.
Hair up to her ears now, Lawlor says she is grateful
that she donated her hair for someone who doesn't have
it right now.
Ang Haroldsen donated 9.5 inches of hair.
"I was a little nervous, but I've donated my hair
before so it was more exciting this time around," Haroldsen
said.
Haroldsen said she was at ease when she found out
that her hair was being sent to two organizations supported
by The American Cancer Society.
"I just wanted to be reassured my hair was going to
benefit someone with a need," Haroldsen said.
In total, 68 students ended up cutting their hair.
The eight plus inches of hair were held together by
rubber bands and sealed in plastic bags then sent to
two wig making organizations; Wigs For Kids and Pantene
Pro-V Beautiful Lengths.
Out of the 68, 14 people cut at least 12 inches of
hair, which was sent to Wigs For Kids, a non-profit
organization. These "handcrafted wigs are made out of
about 150,000 strands of natural hair" and are given
away to only kids with cancer. Founder Jeffrey Paul
says Wigs For Kids is "a small organization on the inside
so we can make a big impact on the outside."
The rest of the donated hair was sent to Pantene Pro-V
Beautiful Lengths. They make wigs because "a real-hair
wig allows a woman to look in the mirror and at least
see a familiar face while she fights to regain a sense
of normalcy in her life."
McFarland said both organizations don't charge people
to receive the wigs, which is why she picked them. She
hopes that this becomes a yearly event for USU, an opportunity
for women to cut and donate hair for someone going through
a rough time in their life.
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