Haircut
BY GINA GALLUCCI-WHITE
I donated my hair
JASMINA81 / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
of losing my hair to chemotherapy and I wanted to
help others in the same position.

Some nonprofits wanted a minimum of 12
inches. Others can’t take hair that has been
colored. In my research, I also found that some
nonprofits charge families to make child wigs or
sell some of the donated hair to private companies
which I was completely against. In the end, I
decided to donate to Children With Hair Loss, a
Michigan-based nonprofit that supplies wigs to
children and young adults facing medically-related
hair loss. They only required a minimum of 8
inches of hair for a donation and provide wigs to
recipients for free.

As temperatures started to climb into the 90s
in June and our regular pool remained closed, I
decided to make my appointment at my Frederick
salon. Although I was very sure of my decision, I
couldn’t help but be nervous the morning of my
appointment. Throughout my life, the largest
haircut I had ever had was probably 3 inches. Now
I would be going from having hair that reached to
around my belly button to hair that was shoulder
length. When I told my stylist
about wanting to donate my
hair, she divided my hair into four
different sections, measured out 8 inches
by marking the distance with a rubber band and
chopped the hair off with a few quick cuts. My
mouth flew open as she cut off the first ponytail, but
she couldn’t see because I was wearing a mask.

My initial feeling was shock but I shortly,
thereafter, felt a lightness and not just because a
huge chunk of my thick hair was now gone. I was
finally taking care of myself. I was finally out of the
house by myself after months of quarantine, and I
could picture a child putting on a wig with my hair,
excitedly looking in the mirror.

For those of you that have not made it to the hair
salons yet due to pandemic shut downs, perhaps
consider delaying the appointment a little longer
and donate your hair to a worthy nonprofit.

You will feel great afterward. T
Gina Gallucci-White is a Frederick County mom,
writer and reporter for several local and national
news outlets.

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