Rapunzels donate their locks out of love

Triplets donate their freshly cut hair to nonprofit organization that makes hair pieces for children suffereing from hair loss as a result of chemotherapy treatments.

By: Melissa Hayes
   Triplets Ariana, Sydney and Casey Reyes walked into For Pete’s Sake Hair Salon in the South Brunswick Square Mall on Monday afternoon with their hair down to their lower backs.
   When they left, it was barely above their shoulders.
   The 8-year-old Jamesburg residents had been growing out their hair since their mother, Brenda Reyes, approached them with the idea of donating the strands to Locks of Love.
   Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that makes hair pieces for financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 who suffer from hair loss due to chemotherapy treatments.
   Ms. Reyes said her mother died three years ago of lung cancer, around the same time she heard about Locks of Love through a member of the girls’ Girl Scout troop. When she told the girls, who attend John F. Kennedy School in Jamesburg, about it and showed them the Web site with pictures of patients who receive the hair, they were more than willing to grow out their hair and help.
   "If you’re going to cut your hair, why not donate it," Ms. Reyes said.
   Ms. Reyes said two of her nieces also wanted to donate their locks, but their hair isn’t long enough.
   In order to donate hair to Locks of Love, the strands must be a minimum of 10 inches long.
   Many salons, like For Pete’s Sake, donate haircuts to individuals willing to donate their hair.
   While employees at the salon said they get a few people wanting to make donations, this was their first set of triplets.
   Ms. Reyes watched as the three stylists pulled the girls hair back into ponytails. With a snip of the scissors, it was all gone.
   Casey looked in the mirror smiling as she saw stylist Pam Semenza cut her brunette ponytail.
   "Casey wanted to get her hair cut the most," Ms. Reyes said. "She wanted it short."
   Sydney wasn’t as ready to give up her long red locks and watched nervously in the mirror as her ponytail disappeared.
   Ms. Reyes said Ariana always kept her hair short so it was a challenge for her to grow it long. Ariana was also trying to grow out her bangs and stylist Tara Toth gave her a layered look to blend in the shorter red strands.
   Stylist Courtney Murray kept her promise and left Syndey’s hair as long as possible.
   When the girls were done they hopped out of their chairs and gathered for an "after photo."
   Ms. Reyes said she took a "before photo" earlier that day.
   The three chatted quietly with one another, feeling their hair and pulling it back in a bunch to compare ponytail length.
   "It feels lighter," Casey said. "I like mine short. Now I have the shortest hair."
   Twirling a strand of hair around her finger, Ariana said, "It feels short."
   All three girls said they would like to do it again because they are helping other kids.
   "If I did it again, I want it to be to here," Syndey said pointing to her ankles.
   "You could donate twice then," Ms. Reyes said.