Charity was student's motive for haircut

SIKESTON - Sikeston High School senior Josh Clark has turned more than a few heads lately. After three years without shear or shaver, Clark, 17, finally tamed his once foot-long mane. He is now completely bald.

"Everyone wants to feel my head," said Clark, describing his classmates' reaction to his new coiffeur.

Charity, not style, was the motive behind Clark's decision to cut his hair before Christmas. He donated all of his hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides prosthetic hairpieces for financially disadvantaged children who suffer from long-term medical hair loss.

Clark learned about the program when it was featured on an episode of Oprah Winfrey several years ago. "It was something I knew I wanted to do."

The decision would prove to be a long-term commitment. At the time, Clark had shaved his head to show his support for the late Clyde Conley, a fellow church member at Shady Acres Church of Christ who lost his hair while undergoing chemotherapy treatments for leukemia. "My mom thought shaving my head was sort of weird at first," Clark said. "But she let me do it because she knew it was what I had to do."

Clark's decision to take his hairstyle to the opposite extreme was also met with some reservations from his mother, Phyllis. "I had some hesitation at first, but I got used to the long hair," Mrs. Clark said.

In December she joined her son by cutting off a length of her own hair to donate to Locks of Love, although she'll assure you she didn't take it quite as far as her son. The minimum length for donated hair is 10 inches, but 12 inches is preferred.

Before their hair was cut Clark said it had to be washed, dried and drawn into a braid or ponytail. The hair is then sent to the organization in a padded envelope along with a registration form.

Locks of Love receives almost 2,000 packages like the Clarks' every week. They estimate 80 percent of the hair donated comes from children.

Hair that is too short or not suitable for children is sold to help cover manufacturing costs. Tax-deductible financial donations are also accepted.

After the hair is received and sorted, the manufacturing process begins. Each hairpiece is custom-fitted and assembled by hand. This process can take up to six months. Six to 10 ponytails are used to make a single hairpiece.

Hairpieces are provided free of charge or on a sliding scale based on the family's financial need. Custom hairpieces normally start at $3,000 retail, according to Locks of Love. Now that his head is shorn, would Clark ever spend three years growing his hair out again?

"I'm going to Freed-Hardeman University in the fall and they don't allow your hair to touch or go past your collar," Clark said. "Otherwise, sure."

For more information on Locks of Love, how to make a donation, or to nominate a child, visit: http://www.locksoflove.org or call toll free: 1-888-896-1588.