Locks of Love donation? **Update pg 2- it's gone!**

[Fantasmic303]

Well, I'm finally ready to do it.

I've been growing my hair for Locks of Love FOREVER, and I'm ready to cut it. I'm excited about doing it because I've wanted to since I was a kid but never was able to let it get long enough. Now that it is, I realize I'm a little confused about my next step.


If you've done it (especially if you're an adult), please help me out. I visited their site, and, unfortunately, the places they listed don't work well for me - some only do it for LoL on certain days, others are salons for kids, and some just aren't local enough. My questions:

- Did you gets yours cut from a regular salon? If you did, how? Do you just tell them you want to cut it for Locks of Love?

- Was it worth it to go to a LoL salon, even if it was inconvenient? I don't know that I'd feel comfortable going to get a "free" haircut - I'd probably want to pay to make sure that they didn't chop my hair and leave it looking stupid.

- Do you have any words of wisdom or things I should know?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[KimR]

My DD has done this twice and she just went to a regular salon. You will need to tell them you are donating your hair though because they will need to ponytail it before they cut it and measure it to make sure they get the requisite 10 incehs. After that, all you need to do is put it in baggie and send it off. Good for you for donating your hair - I hope you enjoy your new style!

 

[amid chaos]

The place where my daughter got hers cut wasnt on the list either, but since we have been going there forever decided to give them a call anyway. The salon owner said she does around 10 haircuts a month for Locks of love. Just because they arent on the list, doesnt mean they dont participate. I know she gave us the option of sending the hair in ourselves or having her do it.
So call around, I'm sure you will find someone locally who participates.

 

[DVCLiz]

My DD16 donated to Locks of Love last year. We just went to our regular hair salon. Her hair was gathered in a ponytail and the hairdresser just cut through it at the appropriate length. Then we took down her hair and it was cut and styled into a cute (short!) new 'do. I'd never trust her hair to a stranger - too much teen drama if she didn't like the result!!! You sound more grown-up, though, so use your own judgement!!

We sent the hair in a padded envelope to the Locks of Love people. It took a REALLY long time, but they did respond. We thought there would be some sort of certificate, but it turned out to be just a postcard, prestamped. She was a little disappointed in that. But she was still glad to donate, as she was ready to try short hair and her friend's mom was (and is) battling cancer and had lost her hair.

I think it's a great program -although DD is now ready for her long hair again!!!

 

[luvmy2sams]

DD had her curls cut off at the Main Street Barber Shop on our last family trip to the World. We told the barber what DD intended to do with her hair, and she cut off the required amount. They wrapped the hair up for us, and we dropped it off at the American Cancer Society when we returned home. The barber shop offered to send it in for us, but I don't think DH was quite ready to let go yet.

It's a wonderful program and was a very proud moment for this mom and her 5-year-old DD.

 

[SC Minnie]

DD10 did this in December. The salon we go to is not on the list either. This salon does several a month too and usually waits until they have 3 to send in at one time. There is a form on the website to fill out and send in with the hair that the salons can print.

Congratulations on doing this! DD is letting hers grow out so she can do it again.

 

[Fantasmic303]

Thanks for all the feedback, guys! As much as I've WANTED to do this, I have to admit that I'm a little nervous - reading about your experiences makes it a lot easier!!

DD had her curls cut off at the Main Street Barber Shop on our last family trip to the World. We told the barber what DD intended to do with her hair, and she cut off the required amount. They wrapped the hair up for us, and we dropped it off at the American Cancer Society when we returned home. The barber shop offered to send it in for us, but I don't think DH was quite ready to let go yet.

It's a wonderful program and was a very proud moment for this mom and her 5-year-old DD.

I considered doing this as well because I wanted my "cut" to be special and thought that was the perfect place to do it. Unfortunately, we ran out of time during our New Year's trip (and I'm not sure I had enough hair to be comfortable at that point), and our next trip is too far away.

This weekend would've been my grandmother's 95th birthday, however, and our first without her. I thought maybe doing it in her honor would make it "special" enough.

 

[mrsmom]

My dd 10 did this last month, She got 17 inches cut of and her hair is still to the middle of her back. We called around but the place was on the list for locks of love, But they took adults too. She has a beautiful cut and they took her picture with her holding her ponytail and gave her a certificate and free haircut but gave her a nice tip and sent in in for us to Locks of love.
Congrats on doing this!!! .
Kim

 

[headoflife]

I am another adult who donated, and I just wanted to tell you how great I think it is that you want to do this to honor your grandmother! I went to a local salon that was not on the list to donate my hair. I called them to see if they participated, and they did. I had the option af a free blunt cut or a paid regular cut, which is what I chose. They put my hair in a ponytail and cut it, then asked if I wanted to send it in or if I wanted them to do it. I opted to have them do it, and recieved a postcard some time later letting me know it had been received. I was really glad I did it, but I understand the nervousness. It took so long to grow that I was emotionally attached to it. That was strange, because I had been planning on donating it, and had put off getting a haircut for a long time just so it would be long enough to donate while not leaving me with really short hair. I know after I had it cut, I felt great, and I am sure you will too!

 

[Rajah]

I did mine, but I was lucky I guess. The salon I like to go to (not a really fancy one, but a step up from Supercuts) was on their list, so it was really easy.

 

[MelCald]

My 9yo daughter just did it last night!!!! I think it was harder for me than it was for her.
We went to our normal salon and told them we were cutting for Locks of Love. They measured it out and now it is sitting on my counter in a bad. We are printing in info on the website out tonight and sending it off tomorrow.

Melissa

 

[tkd lisa]

I do this on a regular basis. My hair grows pretty fast, so I end up donating about every 20 months. In fact, I'm about due for another cut. I just go to a local salon, and they send it in.

 

[Scoobmuzic]

I am an adult (most of the time) and I have donated my hair 3 times since 1999. I had very long hair (I could actualy sit on my hair) and also had trouble letting go. When you have been growing your hair for that long, there is an emotional attachment and it's hard to let go. I used to hear comments all the time "look how long her hair is" or "I wonder how long it took to grow that long?" I used to like that!

I finaly decided that if I was going to cut it, It was going to go to a good cause. My travel agent actualy told me about it, she said she was trying to grow her hair long to donate so I started considering it. We were planning a WDW trip and I also decided that going to Disney with hair that long was going to be a total pain. There are not alot of things you can do as far as styling when your hair is past your butt.

After much consideration I finaly made an apointment with my stylist ant took the plunge. I let her know what I was doing and she put my hair in a ponytail at a length I was comfortable with and 1 2 3 *snip* it was done!! We measured the ponytail and it was 21 inches long!! I couldn't believe it. so she styled my hair and I sent the ponytail off to Locks of Love. Whew..... That's my story so here are some pics my DH took.

This is how long my hair was.

This is how long I still left my hair even after cutting off 21 inches!

Here is the ponytail I sent to Locks of Love!

I say GO FOR IT!!!!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

My DD (12) has been growing her hair out for almost 2 years just for this purpose. She is in my Girl Scout troop with five other girls, two more of which have hair long enough to donate. To make a long story short, all three have now decided to donate to Locks of Love and I am in the process of trying to find a local salon that might be interested in sponsoring a Locks Of Love promotion in which my troop can participate to help earn their Bronze Award with it, culminating in the girls getting their hair cut. I am so proud of them!

 

[SueM in MN]

My youngest DD sent 13 inches of her hair to Locks of Love last September.
We had her freshly washed her hair and put it in 2 hair bands; one at the 12 inch point and one a bit closer to her head. She had her hair cut at our usual salon. The stylist just cut between the hair bands. We took the hair home, wrapped in in a ziplock bag and a padded envelope, printed out the donation form from the Locks of Love website and sent it in.
As others noted, it took quite a while to get the postcard thanking DD for her donation. I wish our hair grew well enough (and fast enough) to donate again, but I'm afraid it will probably be a one time thing.

 

[lewdyan1]

When I did mine at my regular salon, the stylist put my hair in three different ponytails, back and each side. This allows the hair to be cut more evenly, as the sides are no being pulled back. Then she just put the three small ponytails together into one big one. Good luck, it's a great thing to do.

 

[kandeebunny]

I am actually in the process of doing this myself. My hair is finally to shoulder length which says a lot in August I only had an inch of hair. I had a close friend who had lukemia and had a wig from them. After she passed I had started growing my hair out for this purpose, but in 2000 I got sick and my hair fell out from some treatments I was having. Since August I have been growing it back out now, I am going for my first trim since my hairs started growing back on my upcoming trip to WDW, and when I do have it cut off, I will more than likely do it in the barber shop as well!

 

[DLCharmedOne]

I had mine done in November - 13 inches!!! WOOHOO!
The place I got it cut at is where my hubby normally gets his hair cut and they gave me the ponytail back so I could mail it myself because I wanted to add a letter to the envelope explaining why I was cutting my hair and that it was being donated in the name of some really great kids that I unfortunately never had the pleasure to meet (long story).
I will probably do it again because my hair grows so fast. I had it cut to chin length in November and its already down to my shoulders!

 

[Fantasmic303]

Thanks for the great replies, everyone!!

Well, I did it. It's done. Gone. Well, not really gone, since it's currently in a bag on the dresser, but it's not attached to me anymore.

I went to a salon at the mall. The first one I visited were totally clueless and (thankfully) booked for the night, so I tried a different one. They said they do them all the time and were really supportive.

I have to admit though - I was a little surprised that she didn't even ask me "one more time" before she snip-snip-snipped it off!! All of a sudden, she was handing me the 11 inch braid!!

I've got a bob now, just at my chin. I feel naked, my neck feels cold, and I am ready for it to grow back a few inches. I can't pull it back (which should be interesting when I go kickboxing tomorrow), but all I keep thinking is that it's temprorary, and it'll grow back, and the reason I did it is for the little kid who can't say that. So it definitely makes it worthwhile.


PS - I feel like I should go weigh myself...I feel like I lost ten pounds!! What else can I cut off??

 

[Sparx]

that is just so great! My hair is curly and thick, it is about 5 inches past my shoulder. I think I will get it hacked off to donate when it gets alittle longer.