Lily, NSW
As a child I always had long hair, reaching past my waist.
For my fifteenth birthday I knew I wanted to do something meaningful, for me that was donating my hair. I cut it to above my shoulders, it was at least 30 cm shorter than I had ever cut it. Donating my hair made me feel as if I could help someone with alopecia or cancer feel themselves again. Two years later just before my seventeenth birthday I decided that my hair was long again, and I donated it again. About a week later, I got diagnosed with alopecia, I was devasted. I felt empty, after just donating my hair again, I was scared, scared that I would lose all my hair, scared that I wouldn't be myself again. Although I originally thought losing my hair would just be something superficially a part of me, going through the treatment I realised how it effected me deeply and emotionally. I made a pact with myself that I wouldn't wear a ponytail out publicly till the end of the year. The end of year represented the time in which I would know if my current alopecia treatment would work. Come the end of year, my hair was starting to grow back, I finally felt capable to wear my hair in a ponytail again, without being overcome by vulnerability. Finally I felt able to donate my hair. Able to grow my hair out again, to repeat the cycle.