For the past four years, Bristol resident Jazzy Nguyen has been growing and caring for a beautiful, flowing mane of dark brown hair that extended half-way down her back.
Now, it’s all gone.
“It’s going to be a lot easier to dry when I get out of the shower,” Ms. Nguyen said as stylist Patrick Lomantini cut about 26 inches of her hair into a handful of two-foot-long pony tails, and followed up by trimming the rest to the skin of the scalp, leaving a close-cropped mohawk down the middle of her head.
Four years of growth reduced to stubble in a matter of moments at New Leaf Studio on State Street Monday, and Ms. Nguyen couldn’t be happier. In fact, the owner of Dustin & Dylan Nails at Abbigale’s Salon on Hope Street has been growing hair and shaving her head for more than a decade, sharing her lovely locks with organizations that make wigs for cancer patients going through chemotherapy. On Monday, her hair was sent to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which makes real-hair wigs, the third time she has sacrificed her hair.
And this time, she wasn’t alone. Ms. Nguyen’s 8-year-old son, Dylan Luong, was just four when he asked his mom why she suddenly had no hair. After learning of her generosity, Dylan wanted in, and began growing his hair long. On Monday, he too had about two feet of hair removed to help a cancer patient feel whole again.
And humans aren’t all they’re helping. By going bald, they’re helping our furry friends through the Lomantini 50 States Tour to benefit barkaid.org.
Stylist Patrick Lomantini, from Wichita, Kansas, is spending the summer traveling across the country cutting hair to benefit cancer patients and animals. Participants donating their hair ask sponsors to donate for animals, raising money for homeless pets and animal shelters. This is Mr. Lomantini’s fifth national tour, which will cover 77 cities in all 50 states — including Hawii and Alaska — in 50 days, combining his “passion for hair and fashion with saving homeless animals. Every city we go to has a designated shelter to support,” he said.
All proceeds raised at New Leaf Monday go to the Bristol Animal Shelter. That he was helping animals in addition to people was a big draw for Dylan.
“They need to have a home and food,” the third-grader at Hugh Cole School said, noting kittens are his favorite animal and he has two cats at home.
“My son loves the animals and so he wanted to get involved,” Ms. Nguyen said. “You can’t help but love them.”
To donate, visit barkaid.org, or pantene.com/beautifullengths. Donations to the Bristol Animal Shelter can be mailed to 395 Metacom Ave., Bristol, RI 02809, or made in person at the shelter on Minturn Farm Road Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.