Sarah Engstrom wasn’t even thinking about having her hair cut, she liked her long hair that reached all the way to her waist.But when a friend, Sarah Walker, approached Engstrom and told her that her hair was needed, she stopped and listened.
Walker told Engstrom about the Locks of Love program, a national non-profit organization that supplies wigs for children and teenagers who have lost their hair and can’t afford replacements on their own.
The information made Engstrom think, she said, and after about a month, she made the appointment that would make a difference in a child’s life.
“At the time, I didn’t even know about Locks of Love,” she said. “And it took me a while to think about it. But when I thought about being able to help a child, it just sort of happened.”
Engstrom called HeadStart in Pell City, and learned from stylist Brandy Funderburg how the Locks of Love program could work. Funderburg offered to cut Engstrom’s hair for no charge because it would be used as a donation for Locks of Love.
Engstrom said she knows she isn’t the only person who’s ever donated to the organization, but hopes others who haven’t will consider the difference they can make in a child’s life.
Based in Ft. Worth, Fla., Locks of Love advises that donations be a minimum of 10 inches long, bundled in a pony tail or braid. Donated hair should be clean and dry, and the pony tail or braid placed inside a plastic bag and mailed to Locks of Love at 2925 10th Ave. North, Ste. 102, Lake Worth, Fla., 33461.
Locks of Love needs hair from all ages, men and women, and from all races. The only hair the organization doesn’t use is chemically damaged (ask your hairdresser) and gray hair that is unsuitable for children. Layered hair may be put into more than one pony tail for donations and curly hair may be pulled straight to measure the required 10 inches.
The Locks of Love mission statement reads “Locks of Love is a not for profit organization that provides the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children with medical hair loss.
Most of the Locks of Love recipients have lost their hair due to a medical condition known as alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. These prostheses help to restore self esteem and self confidence, which enables recipients to face the world and their peers.”
Since having her hair cut July 6, Engstrom said “there are no regrets. And I love it.”
Most friends and family members have said they couldn’t believe she cut her hair, but Engstrom said their comments have been positive, too.
Just to be sure there was enough hair for a donation, Engstrom asked Funerburg to measure off 12 inches for the cut.
The haircut ended up totaling 14 inches after Engstrom asked the hairdresser to help her find a new style to wear her hair.
Her children Alexis, 8, and Russell, 10, along with her husband, Rusty, have all been supportive of her decision, too.
Alexis told her mother she worried about being able to spot her in places like grocery stores without her trademark long hair, but so far, the family hasn’t had a mishap because of the change.
“Once I explained why, they understood,” Engstrom said.
Locks of Love has a website, info@locksoflove.org, and may also be reached by calling toll free 1-888-896-1588.
