Many are taught it's better to give than to receive. Retired Sgt. Maj. Michael Osburn decided it was better to give July 13 when he had a stylist from N Touch salon in Eliza-bethtown cut 9 inches of his hair. Osburn had the big chop so he could donate his hair to Wigs for Kids, an organization that donates hair for wigs to children who have cancer.
Osburn said he decided to cut his hair because his mother died of cancer.
"I saw how (children were) affected not only on the inside but how they look on the outside --their self-esteem," explained Osburn.
"If I can help somebody I'm more than happy to do it. A lot of times you never know what gestures will pick somebody up."
Osburn added that he had been thinking about donating his hair and decided to conduct a little research to see how it's done. While he was researching he read about Locks for Love but realized they didn't really like his gray hair, but that wasn't an issue with Wigs for Kids.
When Osburn decided to grow his hair after retiring from the Army in 2010 he didn't know how long he would let it grow before cutting it off. But he did know he was going to attempt to let it grow longer than when he was a teenager in the 1970s.
"My hair is longer now than when I first started growing it two years ago," he said.
He pointed out that if an individual is thinking about donating their hair he or she should conduct research about the organizations and salons who will cut their hair.
Although his wife didn't accompany Osburn to the salon, he said she will be tickled because she was ready for his hair to be a shorter length.
"My grandson said, 'cut it for summer,'" he said. "My granddaughter said, 'let it grow.' But when I tell her I've (cut it) she will be happy."
Osburn isn't sure if he will keep a short cut or let it grow again. If he decides to grow it out again he will grow it long enough so he can make another donation.
Taylor Meredith, a stylist with N Touch, said after a customer's hair is cut it's then braided, weighed and mailed to the organization.
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