Not every little girl can grow their hair long and flowing like you can. This is your chance to help a little girl feel beautiful.
About two months ago I did something I have been dying to do for a few years now: I donated all of my hair. Two years ago my hair was the longest it had ever been. I figured I would chop it all off and donate it to a little girl who needed it. Unfortunately, I had bleach in my hair from a trendy ombre hairstyle and couldn’t give my hair away. Since then, I vowed to never bleach my hair again and was determined to grow my hair long so I could chop it off and donate it for real. And I did! Now my hair is really, really short (short for me, at least).
I think that everyone should donate their hair at least once in their lifetime. It’s a shocking experience and I almost cried in the salon, but I kept imagining a happy little girl getting a new wig and that helped me calm down. It’s a funny story, actually, how I came about cutting all of my hair off. I convinced myself for several months that I wanted to “go short” but couldn’t commit. The thought crossed my mind every day and I strategically tried to plan my life around the hair-chopping. Will it be long for summer? What about the fall when I go back to school? Will it be long enough for graduation? What if I can’t pull off a bob? Oh my gosh am I going to look like a mom?
Then Monday, March 28th happened. I woke up, took a look in the mirror, grabbed my keys, said sorry to my mom, and drove to the salon in my local mall (scary). I walked in and said these exact words: “Hi! So on my drive over I had a crisis and I can’t figure out what I want to do with my hair. I could keep it long and get a well-needed trim, or completely chop it off and donate it.”
The hairdresser immediately took out her ruler and began measuring my hair. “You have eight inches if you want to donate it,” she said, looking up at me in the reflection of the salon mirror.
“Just do it,” I said, pretending to be brave. She immediately tied my hair back and made a cut without me thinking. My face went red and I thought that I was about to have a heart attack. I literally handled this moment so dramatically that I could have been a part of a soap opera cast. Then I faked a laugh and said, “Well, can’t go back now!” I think I was half trying to make the hairdresser feel better and half convincing myself that there literally was no other option.
The hairdresser finished the choppy cut and held up the ponytail. I didn’t know what to say, so I stood up and walked over to the sink. I laid back and started to tear up because of how uncomfortable salon sinks are and because I had just cut all of my hair off. However, I had a giant smile plastered on my face during all of the drama. I looked up at my hairdresser to make a joke: “How could you do this to me? I just wanted a trim!” The hairdresser didn’t really laugh. She didn’t really laugh at any of my jokes, but I continued to make them to help myself feel better.
We have all experienced a dramatic salon moment, so please don’t judge me. After the fiasco I quickly realized — my hair can grow back. My donated hair would go to a little girl who couldn’t just grow back hair. It is this amazing feeling of justification for cutting off your long hair, and that’s why everyone should donate their hair at least once. For the rush, for the overwhelming joy, and for the look on that little girl’s face when her new wig is unveiled to her.
So grow your hair out, and donate it. Trust me – you’ll be happy that you did.
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