On April 25, DeSales University will host Locks of Love, a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to children suffering hair loss due to medical complications. The hair drive will be held at DeSales University’s main campus in the McShea Student Center, from 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
Experienced stylists from local salons will be donating their efforts to the event including All About Hair, SHE Salon and Day Spa, and Ashley’s Main Street Styles. The hair drive not only provides donators with a complimentary styling, their hair clippings will go to a cause, instead of a waste bin.
Hair donations must be at least ten inches long, bundled in a clean and dry ponytail or braid. Dyed or perm hair may be used; bleached hair is not permitted.
The event will benefit Locks of Love, a public non-profit organization that provides vacuum fitted hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. They meet a unique need for children by using donated human hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics.
Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. Others have suffered severe burns or injuries or endured radiation treatment to the brain stem or other dermatological conditions that result in permanent hair loss.
The vacuum fit is designed for children who have experienced a total loss of scalp hair and does not require the use of tape or glue. The prostheses they provide help to restore self-esteem and confidence, enabling these children to face the world and their peers.
The organization, which began operation in 1998, provides the prostheses to children under the age 21. These hairpieces require between 6-10 ponytails and take approximately 4-6 months to manufacture. Thousands of bundles of donated hair arrive as a result of the nation publicity that Locks of Love receives in newspaper, magazines, and television programs. It is estimated that children comprise over 80 percent of the donors, making it a charity where children have an opportunity to help other children.
Monetary donations to Locks of Love are tax deductible.
To pre-register for the drive, please e-mail Maggie Riggins:
magadalene.riggins@desales.edu