Our hair is so deeply connected to who we are as a person that when we lose that hair through illness or other causes beyond our control it can feel like part of who we are is missing or changed.
Sadly, diseases like cancer or alopecia are not deterred by age, leaving many children tackling the same complex health battles as adults with the added stress of losing their hair at a young age.
The Little Princess Trust is one of a handful of charities based in the UK that makes wigs for children who have suffered from hair loss. Mirror reporter Danni Scott decided to brave the chop and donate her hair to the charity.
I had been aware of the Little Princess Trust but never considered donating my hair before because it was often an unnatural colour. I also, wrongly, believed the lengths needed were totally unattainable unless you shaved your head completely.
For the past two years, I have kept my hair reasonably long with my last trim taking place back in January. Suddenly, it was September and I needed to decide what I was doing with my increasingly unmanageable mane that was now trailing down my back.
Coincidentally, it was around this time when I read an article on three little girls who were growing their hair to donate to the Little Princess Trust. One of the sisters sadly lost her hair due to illness while growing it out and ended up being gifted a wig by the very charity she was hoping to help.
This moving story pushed me to look into the actual requirements for hair donation and found out the trust was only asking for seven inches, rather than the dramatic 20 inches I had imagined.
I measured my hair and to my surprise, I had already hit the minimum length without even trying.
The Little Princess Trust ask for hair that is natural colours, in good condition and although the minimum length is seven inches, 12 inches and above is most needed right now. All wigs are provided free of charge to children and young people who have lost their hair through illness or other unfortunate circumstances.
Wendy Tarplee-Morris, Founder of The Little Princess Trust, told The Mirror: "The Little Princess Trust was founded in memory of my own daughter, Hannah, after we struggled to find a wig suitable for her during treatment.
"We have now provided thousands of wigs to children, and we know just what a positive impact they can have on a young person’s confidence and identity at what is a very difficult and challenging time."
Despite my hair desperately needing a cut and becoming an increasing annoyance in my life, I knew this was nothing compared to how it must feel to lose it all at such a young age. My decision was made in an instant - I would donate it.
For the next three and a half months, I grew my hair out hoping to hit at least 12 inches for donation. On December 16, 2022, I sat down in Salon Ten and had my long hair chopped - bringing it from mid-back all the way up to above my shoulders.
My hairdresser and I debated about the length, aiming to cut as much as possible without impacting her ability to style it the way I wanted. In the end, a compromise of 11 inches came off for donation - an inch short of my goal.
"Are you ready?" asked my hairdresser, Gabby, "No turning back once I start."
I was apprehensive about such a massive change but took a breath, said yes, and heard the scissors snip.
Mentally I had prepared for a quick cut, like ripping off a plaster but due to how thick my hair is, Gabby had to steadily make her way through each of the plaits and my flicker of haircut insecurity jumped into overdrive.
The long, drawn out hacking made me feel irrationally guilty, like my hair was fighting back and I had made a mistake chopping so much. As the minutes passed, I formed an emotional attachment to my hair in a way I never considered that I would.
I thought of how that hair had been my armour throughout one of the hardest years of my life, how it had shaped how I looked for almost two years. Suddenly, this nice thing I was doing became a terrible decision with no way to back out or reconcile.
When Gabby handed me the first chunk of hair, it shattered any negative thoughts I had. Oddly seeing the plaits sat side by side, removed from my head, calmed me down and reminded me why I was doing this.
This cut wasn't a whim, it was to help children and young people who have been dealt a rough hand feel better about themselves.
I instantly felt lighter, both physically from the mass of hair removed and mentally from knowing this was absolutely the right decision.
Salon Ten director and owner, Nicky Marcar, explained that her salon helps out the Little Princess Trust beyond the donation haircuts. They provide a fitting service to any child or young person who is gifted a wig and also send extensions back to Great Lengths, which can be used by the trust to create even more wigs.
The salon, based in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, even has a private room for wig consultations and Nicky has trained with Macmillan nurses for a specialist service.
"It takes five heads of hair to make one wig," Nicky added, this is to ensure the wig looks healthy, thick, and can be styled without thinning it out too much. She shared how the salon loves seeing people donate because they get to see the full circle when the wigs come back in.
Despite chatting with Nicky about all the good hair donation can do, I had mixed feelings about mine simply because I was so close to my goal. If I had waited another month or just had a hairstyle I didn't like as much, maybe I would have reached that goal and helped more.
While 11 inches is a good length and any donation is worthwhile, I was so disappointed in myself because I didn't reach that 12 inch benchmark. Despite knowing it was for a good cause, I still felt like I hadn't done enough.
Then it dawned on me that I can always do this again, and next time maybe I can aim for longer. It sounds ridiculous but because it feels so momentous after over a year of growth to chop your hair so drastically, there is an impression that you will only do this once - that doesn't have to be true.
For anyone with long hair wanting a change, seriously consider whether your hair is long enough to donate because you might be surprised by how much you can give. If I grow my hair again and want a drastic cut in the future, I will without a doubt donate what I can to the Little Princess Trust.
Realistically, as with all charitable donations, giving what you are able to is more important than anything else.
"We are ever so grateful to Danni and every single person who generously donates their hair to us," said Wendy.
"It is only because of these selfless acts that we can provide wigs to so many young people who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment or other conditions."
She added: "Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we are also now funding childhood cancer research as we follow our vision to give Hair and Hope to every young person with cancer until there is no longer a need for what we do."
Find out more about hair donation at the Little Princess Trust website. You can also donate money to the charity through the JustGiving page.
