Long-Haired Girl Problems #2: Locks of Love

[brendala]

Like the one before it, this comic is based on stuff that has actually happened to me. You'd be surprised how many complete strangers will compliment my hair and then immediately tell me that it's my freakin' civic duty to chop it all off for charity! For the most part, their hearts are in the right place. And few people get as belligerent as the woman in the comic. But comments like this are rude and need to stop.



Every individual has their own reasons for keeping their hair hella long. For some it's religion. For some it's self-image (I've known girls who hate the way they look but keep their hair long because it helps them look more feminine and feel pretty). And for some it's sheer vanity and/or attention seeking. But no one else has any right to judge that choice and make a person feel guilty for not lobbing off the hair that took them years to grow.

So, if any of you ever feel the urge to give the "Locks of Love" lecture to a long-haired co-worker/friend/relative/stranger/whatever....don't. Just don't. I'm sure you mean well. But all you accomplish is making us feel uncomfortable.


Also, Locks of Love as a charity has some....problematic issues. If I was ever to donate, it would go to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. :)

Comments

[amelia-seyroon.livejournal.com]

I should have donated my hair when I got it cut like, all of last year! D=

Only I didn't know about it or I just forgot. .___.

Since it grows so incredibly fast and I need haircut every once in a while.

But wow. I never had comments like that back home. D:

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

*blinks* Wow, really, I have long hair too but I've never had that problem. However, I live in Canada, and while I have heard of charities donating hair I've never heard of "Locks of Love." Makes me wonder if they only exist in the US, I've never even seen an ad for them either.

With that said, totally agree with you. Some people do like their long hair and they shouldn't feel bad for wanting to keep it. You wouldn't just go up and ask someone to donate a kidney. @_@

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

Also, not all long hair is accepted. If it's too damaged (as it splits and stuff when it gets real long), it's rejected. Long hair doesn't mean automatic donation. There's standards.

And honestly, RUDE.

[ichiban-victory.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's something I never encountered. How dare someone tell you what to do with your hair! I get that to an extent, people telling me I ought to grow my hair out, but they have no idea what it's like having enough hair to cause one headaches with long hair. So, enjoy your long hair, don't mind what others tell you you ought to do with it. And as per usual, if I had someone get on my case for not donating my hair, I'd turn the question back on them and ask if they had or were going to donate their hair. Sometimes just that makes people shut up since they're not willing to do what they expect of others.

[bonemarch.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you handled it a lot better than I would have. But it's part of your body and takes forever to grow. It'd be like complaining that they didn't give a kidney to a sick kid in a hospital. Also it's not a charitable contribution if you are forced to do it. Finally, there's never a bad day for a silly hat.

[brendala.livejournal.com]

To be fair, most people aren't overtly mean about it. But a lot of them just don't drop the subject once I tell them I plan on keeping my hair for the time being. As if I'm the ONLY one who can provide hair to help these poor children.

Personally, I don't see the appeal in making fitted human hair wigs for kids. Children grow up. And it wouldn't be long before they grew out of the very expensive custom fitted wig. Plus, I assume synthetic wigs are easier to clean and replace when the kid inevitably messes it up somehow.

[bonemarch.livejournal.com]

Also when you boil it down, it's just a vanity piece.

[steamage.livejournal.com]

It's not their business to try to get you to redistribute your hair. (ಠ_ಠ) Wear it how you like it.

Ugh. I hate finding that out about Locks of Love. ;A; I donated almost three feet of my beloved hair to them, thinking it was doing good. TT_TT And I hate having short hair now. Wish I'd read this sooner.