Felicia Caraway-Special to the Sun

'Are you sure you’re ready?' asked Kernville Elementary Principal Aileen DeLapp just before Kathryn Lozano, 5, surrendered 14 inches of hair during an early morning assembly on Friday. Kathryn allowed her mother, Liz, to do the honors. Lozano's hair will be donated to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides custom fit hairpieces to children who have lost their hair due to illness. Lozano, dressed in a light pink shirt and jeans, bravely allowed the haircut to take place in front of the entire school as she stood proudly on the stage. According to Liz Lozano, her daughter's hair had never been touched by scissors. It had taken five years to grow past the back pockets of her jeans.

Because of the morning rain, plans for an outdoor flag-raising ceremony and hair-cutting were brought indoors. Students, staff, and parents arranged themselves in the cafeteria facing the large stage and American flag placed there. After reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, 'America the Beautiful' was sung by those who knew the words. The large, beautiful Christmas tree in the back of the cafeteria set the giving mood as Lozano was giving a gift of hair to other children. DeLapp explained to the audience what Lozano was about to have done, then handed the scissors to Lozano's mother. The kindergartener's hair was fashioned in a low ponytail, with a sectioned braid that was the piece to be donated. Liz Lozano cut the braid portion and then the ponytail was undone to reveal Kathryn’s much shorter hair, falling to just below the shoulders. The mother was teary-eyed, while her daughter seemed unshaken. They left the stage and Kathryn returned to Kristina Mauer’s K-1 class. Later, Lozano received a haircut from Kim Kelso of Tangelz salon in Wofford Heights, who donates her time and expertise to those who wish to give their hair to Locks of Love.

Kathryn Lozano, 5, holds the long brade of her hair that was cut Friday. Lozano plans on donating her hair to Locks of Love.

Children who wish to donate their hair to Locks of Love is not new to Kernville Elementary School. In April, Tim Elby, then in fifth grade, donated his hair to the organization in front of the school while DeLapp cut it. Kelso donated her services to Elby as well. When Lozano's mother mentioned getting the girl’s hair cut for the first time, DeLapp suggested donating the hair to Locks of Love. Lozano's parents agreed and it was much easier for them to allow their daughter's hair to be cut because it was going to a good cause.

Locks of Love began when Madonna Caufman, a retired cardiac nurse from Florida, developed alopecia in her 20’s which caused hair loss, then watched her four-year-old daughter experience the same condition 15 years later. According to the Locks of Love website, 'Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.' Although many children lose their hair due to chemotherapy and other illnesses or diseases, the majority occurs from alopecia areata, a medical condition which has no known cause or cure. Depending on a family’s situation, the hairpieces are either free or sold on a sliding-scale basis. The custom fit, vacuum-sealed prosthesis sell at retail for $3,500 to $6,000. Donated hair must be in a ponytail or braid, at least 10 inches in length, and free from any bleach treatments.

Locks of Love accepts other hair donations which are sold at market value and the funds from the sale are used for the manufacturing of the hairpieces. The organization also accepts monetary donations and service donations, just as Kelso donates her time to this cause. More than 2,000 children have been helped by Locks of Love throughout the United States and Canada. For more in-depth information, visit their website at www.locksoflove.org.

After Lozano's professional haircut from Kelso, Lozano's mother reported her daughter's hair was about shoulder length, much thicker, and very pretty. It also became much easier to take care of and style. Lozano said her daughter may donate her hair again because the family has fast-growing, healthy hair which is well suited to such an endeavor. According to her mother, this will help to give the youngster a foundation of giving and doing for others.