By Mary O’KEEFE

Hairstylists in Montrose Shopping Park were busy cutting hair on Sunday, Oct. 14, which may seem like a normal thing in their profession, but on this day they were working double duty – as hairstylists and wig makers.

Kids and adults who entered Allure Salon de Beaute in the 2400 block of Honolulu Avenue were ready to not just get their hair cut but to also donate their hair so it would be used to make wigs for those who experienced hair loss due to chemotherapy and other side effects of cancer treatment.

Patti Cook, owner of Allure, hosted the event that saw more than 25 people donating their hair to this worthy cause. The hair was donated to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to be processed. The wigs are given free to cancer patients.

Three girls and their troop leader from Rosemont Girl Scout Troop 5721 were among those who donated their hair.

Olivia Spears is a first grader at Lincoln Elementary School. She was getting her hair cut for the first time and ready to donate her long hair. She had been a flower girl at a family friend’s wedding in June. The bride had been diagnosed with cancer earlier and Olivia wanted to do something to help.

When asked if she had told any of her friends about her plans she answered, “No.” She giggled as she added that her friends would be surprised to see her with her new short hairdo.

Dunsmore Elementary second grader Esmeret Sequeira was also at the salon to have her hair cut and donated. She and her mom Hildreath saw the flyer about the event at the school.

“She had been wanting to donate her hair. I was looking around for somewhere to donate,” Hildreath said.

Esmeret had kept her haircut a secret – not only from her friends.

“I didn’t even tell my grandma,” she said.

Kenya Fernandez is a 10th grader at John Marshall High School in the Los Feliz area. She said she had always wanted to donate and she had a lot of hair to give.

“I donated 14 inches,” she said.

And she still kept her hair longer than shoulder length.

Her aunt had passed away from cancer.

“I want to help,” she said of her donation.

It wasn’t only children who were sitting in the stylists’ seats; adults had long locks to donate, too. Vanessa Lee, a La Crescenta resident, said prior to finding out about the event she had planned on cutting her hair.

“I thought, ‘What’s a few more months?’” Lee said of waiting until her hair grew longer. “I’m going back to get my daughter to see if she wants to donate.”

Cook was very pleased with the turnout and the support from all the local hair salons in the Montrose Shopping Park who helped with the day’s event.

“I hope to make this an annual event,” she said.

  Mary Okeefe