Locks of Love Lends Hearts of Hope this Valentine's Day

Jessica Smith goes through the process of donating her hair with stylist Natallie Phillips.

By Tracy Rolling

Residents opened their hearts on Valentine's Day by donating ponytails during Artistry in Hair Salon's Locks of Love campaign.

During the all-day event, 32 ponytails were donated to the nonprofit group, Locks of Love, which provides wigs to children who have suffered hair loss as the result of illness or chemotherapy.

Native San Diegan and owner of Artistry in Hair Salon in Ramona, Natallie Phillips, organized the event.

"What better way to show love then by collecting donations for children in need," Phillips said.

Inspired by her sister, who has five children, and with the help of her compassionate staff, Phillips saw Valentine's Day as the perfect opportunity to help others.

"The children are nothing shy of victims of unfortunate circumstances such as cancer and alopecia areata," she said. Alopecia areata is a medical condition that creates bald patches on the scalp for which there is no known cause or cure.

The entire day was dedicated to Locks of Love and stylists gave free haircuts to patrons donating 10 inches or more, which is the required length for wig construction.

Jessica Smith was one such client, donating 18 inches of hair. Smith said her heart was stirred in October 2006, when she heard what Phillips was planning

to do on Valentine's Day. She immediately decided to postpone her haircut knowing that a child would benefit from her donation.

Due to Locks of Love and its partnerships with salons across the country, the group is able to restore children's self-esteem, creating confidence and enabling them to face the world and their peers.

One such child, Annika Skinner, a kindergartner at Barnett Elementary, was eager to witness a few of the hairstyle transformations that will make wigs for girls just like her.

This energetic five-year-old was diagnosed with Leukemia in June 2005. With less than 50 weeks of chemotherapy left, she can't help but feel hopeful that this event will benefit one of her many friends at Children's Hospital.

Just as each child is unique, so is each hairpiece. Prior to sewing the donated hair onto a skullcap, a plaster cast mold of the patient's head is made. It is also colored to match the child's skin tone.

Six to 10 ponytails are required to make one wig, which would normally cost between $3,500 and $6,000. Locks of Love provides wigs free of charge, once the application process is complete.

Natallie will make this an annual event and she will take hair and cash donations year-round for Locks of Love.

For more information, contact Natallie Phillips at Artistry in Hair, 1008 D. St., Ramona, or by phone at 760-789-1231. For more information on obtaining a wig for a child, visit www.locksoflove.org.

Left to right; Erica Shepherd, Natalie Phillips, Diane Gibbs and Sarah Socia. From left are Melissa, Annika and Suvi Skinner ready to witness the ponytails of hope being collected for Locks of Love at Artistry in Hair in Ramona. Photo by Tracy Rolling Ariana Garcia donates a 20 inch braid. Photo by Carol Kinney