The Binghamton University chapter of Circle K is pairing up with Locks of Love for a growing cause that provides self-confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss.

With the help of Cutting Crew salon Circle K, a student volunteer organization, will host a Locks of Love event on April 15 in the lower level of the Hinman Dining Hall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We [Circle K] have done a lot of community service that involved adults, and now we want to do something that will help children also,” said Shirin Zarabi, the group’s treasurer.

Cutting Crew, an official Locks of Love salon located in the Oakdale Mall, will send seven stylists to campus who will be cutting hair for $5. Hair is needed from both men and women, and from all colors and races. Anyone who donates the minimum of 10 inches of hair will receive a free haircut.

All the proceeds will go to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to disadvantaged children under the age of 18 who suffer from long-term medical hair loss.

The hair will be placed in a baggie with the donor’s name on it and will be shipped to Locks of Love. The guidelines for donating hair include that hair cannot be bleached (including hair that is highlighted) and must be in a ponytail or braid before the hair is cut.

“A majority of the students wait until they go home for haircuts, so they wait for three or four months,” said Keri Snedeker, manager of Cutting Crew. “We want them to know that there is one salon that can take care of them and treat them as they would be treated if they were home.”

While people may be more familiar with the actual hair donation aspect of Locks of Love, the financial side of the charity is also in need.

“Locks of Love have a lot of donated ponytails to make the wigs, but they also need money that goes into the manufacturing process. That’s where we come in,” Snedeker added. “We charge $5 for a trim that we would normally charge for $20-25 in the salon. You get the same service for a cheaper price.”

Once Locks of Love receives enough donated hair, the organization will begin manufacturing a hair prosthesis for a child. The process will take anywhere from four to six months and will require constant communication between the organization and the recipient, since the prosthesis is custom-made.

The manufacturing process of the prosthesis begins when a molding kit and instructional DVD are sent to parents to show them how to make a plaster cast mold of the head. This mold is used to create a plastic fitting cap, which will have a vacuum seal function that sets the prosthesis apart from regular hairpieces. The only way the prosthesis may be removed is if the wearer breaks the vacuum seal at the temples.

The child will then be able to choose the color and length of hair and the skin tone color of the silicone base. Each prosthesis retail anywhere from $3,500 to $6,000 and require six to 10 ponytails. Each strand of hair is hand-injected into the silicone base.

“We want people to know that there is a variety of ways to give back to the community, even if you don’t live in that community,” Zarabi said. “Just taking five minutes to get a haircut will change a child’s life.”