JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Positively Jax event was held Saturday at the Avenues Mall to help kids who are struggling with hair loss due to medical treatments.
For the second year News4jax teamed up with Toni and Guy Hairdressing Academy to donate for Locks of Love.
Stylists from Toni and Guy Hairdressing Academy cut and styled hair for free, all for a cause.
"It's definitely something that is a sensitive issue, something that causes insecurities when someone doesn't have their hair, so the fact we are able to do this today is definitely important to everyone here," said Nicholas Graziano, with Toni and Guy Hairdressing Academy.
Kimmy Nguyn donated Saturday by chance. She happened to be at the mall and was in the right place at the right time because she's been wanting to donate for years.
"It's kind of a personal thing, too," said Nguyn, who donated in honor of her dad. "My dad went through chemo. He had lung cancer and they had to shave his head. It was a big deal."
Her locks, along with all the others donated, will go toward wigs for children who lost their hair because of illness.
"It honestly doesn't cost me anything, but I hope someone, or a few kids, can get their life back, or a part of their identity back just by the donation of their hair," Nguyn said.
One man who donated his hair has been growing it out for 20 years.
"It's for the kids, man," said Aaron Gary. "That's it, you know, what more is there for the kids?"
People who donated had to give at least 10 inches of hair; 179 ponytails were donated at the Locks of Love event last year and 158 men, women and children donated ponytails Saturday.