Tuesday, Jun. 03, 2008

Salon will cut hair for wigs

Donations requested for Locks of Love

A local salon hopes of snipping off some donations along with a lot of hair for a good cause.

Trendy Salon owner Elsa Perez, said patrons can make appointments now to come down to her salon Saturday and have their hair cut off and donated to Locks of Love, an organization which provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

Participants can also choose to have their hair styled by by one of the hairstylist at the salon and part of their earnings will also be donated to the charity.

"I already have had people call and make appointments, some have brought in their hair," Perez said the salon is also accepting clean hair wrapped in a rubber band.

Perez said she hopes to keep two of her stylists busy all day while she attends the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life at Loftin Stadium.

A cancer survivor herself who has lost two family members to the disease, Perez said she has been wanting to get involved in charities that benefit cancer research and support but only recently had the chance through one of the salon's clients .

The "show you care, cut off your hair" campaign was prompted by one of the salon's patrons Traci Schiro whose sister had recently undergone treatment for lymphoma.

"I was drawn to do something," Schiro said that would show her sister she was in solidarity with her.

Although there was a variety of charities to become involved with Schiro decided to do something for Locks of Love after her sister's hair began to fall out.

"For a young person it is especially hard," she said. "I wanted to do something to help their self-esteem."

To donate in the past had to preferably be at least 10 inches long, clean and not colored or permed. But more recently short hair has been accepted and so has gray and color-treated hair as long as it is in a natural color.

Locks of Love then sells the hair to other organizations and then distributes the profits back to its own operations.

"Everyone can donate even small children and boys," Perez said.

Perez said so far interest has been good and she already has a few clients scheduled for trims.

If feedback is positive then she hopes to expand the salon's efforts in the fight against cancer and in raising its awareness.

"Maybe in the future we will have a wig drive," she said.

For more information and to make an appointment contact Elsa Perez at Trendy Salon, 826-1998 or visit at 1450 S. Mercey Springs Road, suite 102.

Enterprise reporter Minerva Perez can be reached by phone at (209)388-6565 or by e-mail at mperez@losbanosenterprise.com

Enterprise reporter Minerva Perez can be reached by phone at (209)388-6565 or by e-mail at mperez@losbanosenterprise.com