Hair to spare helps kids

By Melissa Lambarena

The James West Alumni Center was transformed into an upscale beauty salon on Feb. 7, when 210 UCLA students, faculty, staff and friends showed up for a good cause: donating 2,200 inches of hair to the Locks of Love organization to make wigs for children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

The event was coordinated by the Alumni Scholars Club (ASC), with additional sponsorship by the UCLA Alumni Association, Vidal Sassoon Academy and BJ's Restaurant.

ASC Executive Director Jenn Hyman said she has donated hair of her own to Locks of Love on previous occasions.

"This is the third time I've personally donated my hair, so this is an organization that is very dear to my heart," said Hyman.

With every snip of hair, more than 50 Sassoon students working side-by-side in the busy room got closer to becoming licensed hairstylists.

"They're cutting more hair in one day than they will in school," said Sassoon Creative Director Traci Sakosits. "It gives them the experience of a true Saturday in the salon, the energy, and the business of it." According to Sakosits, this was the most successful event her academy has ever participated in.

Alexa Johnson, a first-year student and first-time donor to Locks of Love, donated eight inches of hair.

"A teacher at my high school had to shave her head because she had cancer ... just thinking about that gave me another incentive to do it," said Johnson. "Everyone was really excited to be here. It was really great just seeing people wanting to help out."