Lakewood Ranch Town Hall employees donate hair to Locks of Love

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Marie Thompson was still nervous when she sat down in stylist Mary Taylor’s chair at Che Bella Salon & Spa March 16.

Although she was eager to donate her hair again to Locks of Love, a non-profit that makes hairpieces for children with long-term hair loss, Thompson, 34, still had some reservations about further shortening her hip-length golden hair. Her donation a year ago of about 40 inches was the first time she’d ever had her hair cut professionally and only the second time it had been cut in her whole life.

“It doesn’t seem like a lot, but it is for me,” Thompson said, as Taylor began preparing for the cut. “This will be about 60 inches, in total.”

Joining Thompson for this year’s hair-cutting adventure was her friend and co-worker at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, Tara Wagner, who was just a chair away.

“I’ve wanted to do this several times before,” said Wagner, moments after stylist Bradley Peters snipped her hair to a length above her shoulders. “I did it for a cause — for friends and family that I’ve lost (to cancer) and even acquaintances.

“It feels good,” she said of giving to Locks of Love. “It was fun having the long hair, but it was a lot of work. I hope (my hair donation) makes a difference for somebody.”

Wagner said she had wanted to donate her hair for more than two years, but for various reasons was not able to do so. After Thompson donated in late 2010, Wagner told her she’d donate, too, if Thompson were to give to Locks of Love again.

Thompson said she had planned to keep her hair shorter, but let it grow out when she saw how quickly it was growing.

“I wasn’t going to cut off four inches and waste it,” she said.

Thompson had hair so long it touched the floor until September 2010, when she visited Taylor at Che Bella Salon & Spa for her first real haircut. Her only other haircut had been performed by her father when Thompson was 10 years old, because she’d refused to care for it properly.

After wanting to donate her hair for several years, Thompson had finally decided to make the donation after losing a friend — Kandra Crissen, the daughter of a high school friend — to leukemia in October 2008.

With friends and family surrounding her, Thompson closed her eyes, tears welling up in her eyes, as scissors snipped away about 40 inches of her golden locks.

Although Thompson again was nervous this year with her donation of about 20 inches, she didn’t even flinch as Taylor put her hair in two small ponytails and began cutting.

“I’m happy,” Thompson said. “It feels good (to have it short and to donate it).”

Next year, Thompson may even try a shorter, more stylish cut.

“I’m getting more adventurous,” she said.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].