An Example of Love on One of the Loveliest Days of the Year
By Tracy Rolling

Paige Faaborg and Jerico Sosbee wait to make their hair donation.

Local salon owner Natallie Phillips demonstrated abundant love on Valentine's Day last month at Artistry in Hair's Second Annual Locks of Love event.

Supported by her staff and family, Phillips said, "It's been so rewarding for everyone. We're excited to be collecting hair and cash donations again and we know we're helping children across the country face the world and their peers."

Just as they did last year, Phillips and staff gave complimentary haircuts to patrons donating 10 inches or more, the required length for wig construction.

"First, we put the client's hair in a ponytail, then braid it and make a blunt cut just above the banded area. Then we place the hair in a special container to be sent to Locks of Love. After that," said hairdresser Diane Gibbs-Morrison, "We shampoo, cut and style" the client's hair.

Locks of Love is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to constructing and providing hair prostheses to underprivileged children.

Paige Faaborg proudly holds her ponytail that store owner Natallie Phillips just cut.

Each hairpiece is custom made. The process begins with a mold of the child's head. After that, a silicone base is produced, matching the child's skin tone. As many as 10 donated ponytails are hand injected up to 150,000 times into the base.

Costs vary from $3,500 to $6,000 per hairpiece, and they take approximately six months to produce.

Among the conditions that can cause hair loss are cancer treatment and alopecia areata - a medical condition creating bald patches on the scalp for which there is no known cause or cure at this time.

Founded more than 10 years ago, Locks of Love has generously supplied thousands of hair prostheses to youngsters, thanks in part to collaborative partners like Artistry in Hair.

"It's all about the kids," said Phillips, who has been inspired by her sister who has five children.

Jerico Sosbee, Phillips' 15-year-old nephew said, "I think there are a lot of people fighting cancer and they deserve the best. It's not right for a kid to go through what they're going through, so I started growing my hair out about a year ago."

Montana Pettit and hairdresser Diane Gibbs-Morrison smile as they get ready to make the big cut.

Sosbee donated a 10 1/2-inch ponytail.

Other patrons included Montana Pettit, a local fourth-grader who first heard about Phillips' charitable event last year after a classmate donated her hair.

She went home and shared the story with her mom, who said, "Originally, Montana was excited to make a wig for Uncle Tony, who had lost his hair while he was battling cancer."

With a deeper understanding of where her hair will be going, Montana said, "I wanted to donate my hair because it's a nice thing to do for children who have cancer."

Although the Pettit Family mourns the loss of Uncle Tony, they know that Montana's hair donation will ease some of the psychological effects felt by children suffering from hair loss.

Paige Faaborg, another local fourth-grader, said she wanted to donate her hair to "people who have cancer and don't have any hair and can't afford a wig."

Paige's dad introduced the idea to Paige after last year's event. He brought her to the salon where Phillips measured her hair, making sure it met the minimum 10-inch requirement.

"She's so excited and has been patiently waiting for almost a year," said Sandy Faaborg, Paige's mom, who shares that Paige has never worn short hair.

Another patron, AnnaMarie Spenner of Ramona said, "This is the sixth ponytail I've donated to Locks of Love."

Spenner's mother, Judy Nachazel, read Phillips' press release in the January issue of Ramona Journal and told her daughter about a new opportunity to donate her hair.

Spenner donated a 12-inch ponytail and said, "I'm lucky to have thick hair that grows fast. And really, it's the least I can do."

Other event highlights included a donation from a senior Ramona resident who stopped by the shop and donated her 10-inch childhood braided ponytail.

The anonymous donor had been keeping her hair in a cedar chest, and after reading about the event, knew it would be put to good use.

The longest donation came from Sue Bottle and was 18 inches long. The salon collected almost 20 ponytails and will accept cash donations and hair accessories throughout the year on behalf of Locks of Love.

For more information, contact Natallie Phillips at Artistry in Hair, located 1008 D St. Call the salon at 760-789-1231 or visit www.locksoflove.org.

Photos by Tracy Rolling