Short, freshly shampooed hair trimmings scattered the floor at Visual Changes Salon and Spa, in Ellicott City, as a group of 16 women traded their long tresses for shorter hairstyles June 5. The bulk of the hair the women gave up, however, was neatly bound and shipped off to create hairpieces for children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

The women, all members of area parenting clubs, decided to donate their hair to the Locks of Love organization in honor of one member's former student, who is currently battling cancer.

To help ease the shock of their new, short haircuts, the women were treated to free makeup sessions, seated chair massages, hand massages and scalp massages, in addition to a catered pasta bar and a wine bar at the event.

"A lot of us have only seen each other with long hair, so it's very strange for us to all see each other with these completely new looks," said Christina Schiller, whose former student, 10-year-old Kayla Kiley, has cancer. Schiller taught Kiley's kindergarten class several years ago at Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, in Waldorf.

Hair donated by the 16 women -- all members of the Ellicott City Moms' club and the Super Fun and Hip Moms' group -- will amount to approximately 1 1/2 hairpieces through Locks of Love, according to Visual Changes salon owner Sarah McGee.

McGee said she was pleased that several area businesses contributed to the event.

"I am amazed at what has come forth with this event -- all of the companies we've called are so willing to help. We've been very surprised," McGee said.

Stephanie Pabon, a member of both mothers groups and the coordinator for the event, said the idea for the event occurred to her after she noticed that her hair grew very long during her pregnancy. According to McGee, this increase in length and quality in pregnant women's hair is a result of healthier eating and pre-natal vitamins.

"When you're pregnant, your hair grows really long and fast," Pabon said. "We all just recently had children so we all noticed this, and decided we wanted to grow it out for Locks of Love."

Measuring 10 inches of each woman's hair with silk ribbon rulers, the stylists bundled the hair into ponytails, swiftly chopped the ponytails off and placed them into plastic bags to be sent to Locks of Love.

Most mothers left the style and shape of their shorter hair to the professionals.

"She'll make it cute. I always know I'll have a good hair cut if the stylist's hair is cute," said Stephanie Keefer, a member of the Ellicott City Mom's group.

According to McGee, it takes about 10 ponytails -- each 10 inches in length -- to make one bob-style hairpiece. According to Locks of Love, the hair donated at the June 5 event will not go directly to Kiley because it is too difficult to specify hair for a specific child.

However, Pabon said that Kiley has already signed up for her own hairpiece and also will receive a card explaining how the mothers donated their hair in her honor.

"Our goal was so that Kayla would definitely be able to get a wig and I know we reached that," Pabon said.

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