Allison Lynn
My Hair Cut for Cancer

On November 18, 2010, I did my second hair cut for cancer. My hair was donated to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, who works with the Canadian Cancer Society to give free wigs to deserving cancer patients.

Below is my blog entry from that day.

I only thought about donating my hair because I saw someone else do it on tv. If you know someone who may be interested in this, please share this page with them! Donating is easier than you think!

For more information on donating your hair, please visit the Pantene Beautiful Lengths site for either Canada or the USA.

Many thanks to Laurel Richards Hair for handling my transformation. Laurel and her staff do an annual Cut for Cancer day each June.

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November 18, 2010

A few years ago, my aunt had cancer. At the time, we lived so far apart that I felt there was little I could do to support her.

I remember her talking about losing her hair, and thinking how fortunate she was that she could purchase a wig.

And then I realized what I could do.

I could donate my hair.

Last year, I decided that I would donate again. I start growing it, and growing it, and growing it, and today, we finally did the cut!

Here's my before shot. We did the cut at my cousin Laurel's fabulous salon:
 

And here I am after the cut! Almost 10 inches!
We gathered the hair in ponytails and snipped them off, elastics still intact.


After that, I was treated to a fabulous makeover!
Heather did my cut, and Laurel did my colour.


My ponytails were put in a baggie, and mailed to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.


I'm so grateful for this experience. I didn't know if it would be as profound the second time around, but it really was.

As I cared for my hair over the past few months, I realized that it wasn't my hair anymore - I was just taking care of it until I could pass it on to someone else.

In the past few weeks, I started praying for the woman who would get my hair. I don't know anything about her - her age, her looks, her background, her family - but I do know that she's going to be scared, and I know she's going to need faith and hope to get her through.

It takes 6 donations to make one wig, so my hair will join forces with the hair of 5 other women. I thought about those women, how different we all might be, how similar. I imagined having lattes with them and hearing the stories behind their hair donations.


So here I am, with my new look!
 
Laurel, Me, Heather

Many thanks to Laurel Richards Hair for doing my cut and making me feel fantastic! Laurel and her crew do an annual Cut for Cancer day each June. Be sure to look them up if you're close to Ajax, Ontario.

Pantene Beautiful Lengths collects ponytails and makes them into wigs for women who can't afford them both in Canada and in the States. If you're interested in donating your hair, please consult their site for all the details