(Photo Courtesy of Haley Tharp)
Sarah Harris woke up counting on her usual schedule: class, class and more class. But she said the combination of annoying split ends, a walk through the Wilkinson center and a rush of bravery drove her to do something she never expected to do.
“I was nervous about donating my hair because I didn’t think short hair would look good on me,” Harris said. “I just decided, you know what, I’m going to take a leap of faith and try it.”
On March 26, hair stylists from the Renaissance Academie teamed up with Y-Serve in the Wilkinson Center Terrace for the semiannual Locks of Love event. Locks of Love turns donated hair into hairpieces for children who suffer from medical, long-term hair loss.
Students surrounded the Wilkinson Center Terrace, questioning whether or not they wanted to donate. Stylists approached them and put them at ease with tips and tricks on shorter hairstyles that would fit just right.
The event drew in more than 40 female BYU students who each donated 10 or more inches of their hair.
Stylists and students involved in the event said they felt like they were contributing to a great cause, but Renaissance Academie owner Therese Taylor’s involvement was even more personal.
“I’m actually a cancer survivor myself,” Taylor said. “I never had to go through chemo-therapy, but it’s a similar journey, so I get really excited about these events. It’s such a great thing to do.”
