The girls and I got our hair cut yesterday.
My children caught on to the hair donation thing a few years ago and have each donated their gorgeous russet locks once before. Almost immediately after shedding their braided ponytails to offer them up to be made into wigs for children losing their hair to chemotherapy, they decided that they’d get growing right away so they could do it again.
Punkin’ Pie, before her first hair donation, in October of 2005
Beanie, in mid-clip. Coincidentally, this was also in October, though a year later – 2006:
It took them two and three years respectively but, by golly, they’ve done it!
I made appointments for all three of us for yesterday afternoon. I got a trim, which lightened my too-heavy curls right back up, and the girls left looking drastically different – and feeling much cooler and unencumbered – than they did when they arrived. They’re going to appreciate, I think, not having hair stuck to the backs of their necks in the heat or tangling up in front of their eyes while they swim.
Punkin’ Pie, who’s had three years to grow her hair out, met the 10 inch length required by Locks of Love to donate her hair. Beanie, who last donated two years ago, has to donate through Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths program because she’s only managed to grow out about 8 inches.
Before:
Beanie, during;
Punkin, mid-clip:
After!
I think they’re absolutely ADORABLE in their new bobs. They, too, seem pleased, though they’re still a little weirded out. It’s a pretty drastic change, but they’re taking it in stride.
I love that they insist on donating their hair. I think, because they’re so often complimented on their spectacular manes, they are particularly sensitive to how it might feel to not have any hair at all. Though I think that both girls would have preferred to not have their hair as short as it is right now (and I KNOW that Daddy would like it a little longer), they are still pleased with what they did. THEIR hair grows back, they know, and they’re happy to be a little unfamiliar with girls they see in the mirror for a few weeks if it means that someone else can be happier with what THEY see.
I am so proud of them.
I think they are so cute with short hair. It brings out the natural curls/wave!
Plus it’s for a great cause! They rock!
What an wonderful act of compassion for kidlets their age. As an auntie of a very young cancer survivor, I stand and applaud all you!
I’m proud of them, too.
Yay! I posted a post on my blog for them.
That is so cool!
That is so sweet. I think someone would like to have my boy’s hair, but it grows out, not down!
I am so proud of them for doing something so completely selfless. What wonderful kids you are raising, Mrs. Chili.
SO wonderful. Also, something they will remember all of their lives. You have some phenomenal kids there, my friend. Much love!
Auntie, they are ADORABLE! It seems, though, that Punkin’ got all her curl out as a baby – her hair didn’t spring up like Beanie’s did. She’s cool with it, though – it’s more willing to submit to her demands if it’s straighter..
Chatty, thank you – this means a lot to them, especially since this is something they do entirely without official recognition.
Prof., they really are great kids.
Gerry, that’s cool! They watched the video and giggled. Beanie observed that, with a little more growing, Mr. Crosby could donate HIS hair, too…
SW, it’s cool in more ways than one; they’re not having to pull their hair up to get it off the backs of their necks anymore!
Seester, Mr. Chili’s hair grows JUST LIKE your son’s. If it goes too long, I swear it’s heading for afro-halo. Ridiculous, so I try to schedule him regular visits with She Who Wields the Shears…
Dingo, they came to me wonderful; I’m just doing the best I can to encourage them to keep heading in that direction…
It’ll grow back and this time they did it at the perfect time weather-wise. It’s the perfect choice and I’m sure it’s so much appreciated by the people who receive their hair.
From behind Bean looks like Auntie with her new hair!
That hair is the color of my childhood. Seriously. My sisters and I are all various shades of red, mine being the most strawberry-blond. I wish they had had programs like that when I was a kid, it would have been great fun to go long and short and long again. Now my hair doesn’t grow out well enough to go long and short. Ah, aging…
Kudos to you and the kidlets. What great girls. And they do have fabu hair–long or short!
that is so spectacular. my sis and i are also both in the process of growing ours to donate, but we’re a bit older, so it’s not quite as amazing. too many kids these days just don’t consider other people’s feelings – i’m glad you’re raising your girls to think of others.
what a great idea…never heard of this before. I wonder if we do it france
You’re fostering such great human beings! I’ve heard that red hair is always in demand because it’s more rare and sometimes people who were redheads have to wear blond or brown. Just imagine some happy little girls getting some gorgeous red hair like they used to have – surely it will illicit ear-to-ear smiles!
Do you think your girls could grow their hair for me next? I would LOVE to have gorgeous hair like them!
You have every right to be proud. And the bobs are adorable. I keep my youngest in a bob because she likes it, and it looks fantastic. When she is old enough to understand Locks of Love, I might let her grown it out. You know, I’ve got two redheads, too. (One isn’t quite as red as yours.) Their hair is a treasure.
That is really awesome. The short hair looks fierce. You tell them I’m proud of them!