This is exactly what Diane Cooley, a mother in Alpharetta, went through with her daughter, Jenna, on New Year’s Day 2004. After a call to her brother-in-law, a physician in New Jersey, and then a follow up with their pediatrician and pediatric dermatologist, it was determined that Jenna had Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. As with Jenna, Alopecia often starts with one or more small, round, smooth patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss or complete body hair loss.
Over the next six months, Jenna lost about 50% of her hair. Fortunately, she eventually re-grew all of her hair, but she continues to experience some hair loss each year caused by Alopecia. One year she even lost an eyebrow! Jenna said that nobody really notices her hair loss, but if they ask, she doesn't mind talking about it and letting people know what they can do to help people with the disease.
Shortly after Jenna’s diagnosis, Diane and her oldest daughter, Emily, decided to start growing out their hair for Locks of Love, a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada suffering from long-term medical hair loss. They donated their first ponytails in 2005.
In an effort to raise awareness about Alopecia and Locks of Love, Diane and her girls decided to start "It’s Just Hair," an annual cut-a-thon, in May 2007. The name helps remind us that hair grows back for you and me, but not for many children affected by Alopecia.
"It feels good [to help children less fortunate] because I don't really have a bad case of it," said Jenna. "It feels good to know that it's going to somebody that needs it and that they know that people really care about them."
It’s Just Hair takes place on the last Monday of the school year, allowing girls to get a fresh new haircut for the summer, and show off their cuts during the last few days of school! Everyone is invited to participate as seen by the participation of mothers, daughters, grandmothers, teachers and other school employees. Even a teenage boy grew his hair out and sported a Mohawk as his new ‘do. Both Jenna and mom, Diane, will be donating their hair this year and are looking forward in sharing in this experience!
So far, It’s Just Hair has collected over 500 ponytails for donation to Locks of Love, and are hoping to top last year's number of 85 ponytails at last year's event. The 7th Annual "It’s Just Hair" cut-a-thon will be held on Monday, May 20, 2013. Taylor Brooks Salon & Spa (11705 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta) will be providing complimentary haircuts and styling for all 10-inch donors. To learn more or to register, contact Diane Cooley at 678-521-5639 or email itsjusthair@gmail.com. You can also find It’s Just Hair on Facebook here.
To see more photos from the It's Just Hair Cut-a-Thon, click here.
To learn more about Alopecia Areata, please click here.
To learn more about Locks of Love, please click here.
