[New post] Hair Donation – Cancer Council Ponytail Project
drvolcanoe posted: " This post might sound like I'm a narcissist who is obsessed with hair. Ohhh if I had no vanity I would have shaved my hair for the cause, but nah I'm not that selfless. So, oh well…I've outlined my story below as photo captions & further down in thi"
This post might sound like I'm a narcissist who is obsessed with hair. Ohhh if I had no vanity I would have shaved my hair for the cause, but nah I'm not that selfless. So, oh well…I've outlined my story below as photo captions & further down in this write-up.
There've been many who admired my lustrous locks either in person or via photos, perhaps even secretly envied the length & thickness , querying if I'm going to grow it longer & even getting sad when I mentioned am going to chop it soon. That's been the plan all along…3 years 2 months since I was first inspired.
In the last 2 years, I've come across 3 gorgeous ladies who have done the same.
Reasons for sharing this post:
To Inspire (paying it forward as I was inspired…all for a good cause)
To Celebrate - it is one of my greatest achievements to grow my hair to hip length, an even greater feat to do so without split ends, especially when my iron deficiency has progressed to anaemia over the past 1 year!!!
To Mark my first time! #cancercouncilponytailproject For FB memories to remind me of the first ever time I #rockthechop for this project.
To satisfy the enquiring minds who were requesting to see my short hair look…nah, for you my dears, I threw in 2 videos at the end. Go check them out!
You can Google to find your local projects similar to these.
Those who know me well knows that the big C has robbed way too many loved ones way too soon from my life, from the time I was 19 years old - the year I entered medical school. Perhaps that's why I naturally chose to do my elective at Hospis Malaysia.
Over the past 15+ work years I have met many newly diagnosed cancer patients, across all ages, from all walks of life, from little children to the elderlies…I've walked with them along their treatment journeys. Most side effects of treatment like chemotherapy is unpleasant, but one thing that can make many depressed is losing their hair. It isn't just about vanity & looking good to tell them to live with it. It has a lot to do with the sense of loss, losing control & hope! Yes, it will grow over time. But the associated emotions that accompany the loss & the time it takes for regrowth run deep.
I've seen my friend & patients using wigs during those times. And they rocked it! It brought them cheer. Mostly synthetic (plastic) I know.
All I could give my patients throughout their journey as a doctor is HOPE & SUPPORT & celebrate every positive milestone and expedite every referral and push for urgency for when things take a turn for the worse.
But as an individual, I can do more. One tiny contribution I've madr 2 years in a row now is The March Charge (I'll be back next March despite all my toe injuries this year, and every March to come) to fundraise, on top of my donation. For the first time ever, I'm donating a piece of myself…my locks will definitely make a good wig with its length & bushiness… it makes someone happy & bring them lotsa good vibes. I've been whispering to locks lately, positive vibes.
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It isn't only cancer and treatment around it that contribute to hair loss. There are other medical conditions too!
At my age, I look at peer group and see many who suffer from hair loss or hair thinning issues. I am grateful for my lustrous locks that actually grew this long now!!! So, perhaps I should grow it out & make this hair donation an annual thing…share the blessings…as long as mine continues growing healthily.
You see, the real challenge was in maintaining the long hair. Especially in the summers, when it is sooo hot. Was I still living in Malaysia, there's no way I would have grown my hair this long over 3+ years. Would have chopped it off numerous times in that weather! Was sooo tempted to chop last summer, I tell you.
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Growing up, till 12 years old, I rocked short hair. We were finally allowed to grow our hair in secondary school, when we were deemed old enough to care for it. Over the years, ponytails aplenty, but so were my pigtails days back then. But never ever have I grown it past my shoulderblades!!!
So why this change…till hip length?
Read on….
In October 2018, a dear friend casually mentioned she was going to donate her hair. I had no clue about hair donation prior to that. That was merely a couple of months after my last big chop.
I was inspired. I did my research & pledged to myself I'll do the same if my hair grows longer healthily.
I did trim it once mid 2019, due to split ends (story of my life whenever it grew a little longer) but that was it, pretty much maintained the length.
Little did I expect to grow it to this length, or for this long. These were accidental.
Jan 2020 was when I started sharing with some near and dear ones about my intent, especially when queried about the length of my locks. Serabai kot! But mainly it is because I've never grown my hair to that length, ever! I didn't have 20cm to spare yet back then. Post exams, as much I was desperately craving for a change, a refreshing feel at that time, I persevered.
Lockdowns after lockdown in Melbourne in 2020 & few shorter ones earlier this year before the longer 6th lockdown more recently! Thanks to my paranoia, I employed a wait and see approach between all the lockdowns this year. Finally post 6th lockdown, I got an appointment early December. Due to another very important appointment, postponed it and the only next date we could match this year was today! Yeay, finally. As much as I've gotten used to my long hair & grown to love it a lot, I know it is looooooong overdue to be donated.
It is truly a miracle that despite my iron deficiency anemia (very poor compliant when it comes to supplements, yes I'm a bad patient when it comes to medications), plus my history of some hairfall (noticed more during the days I used to rebond my hair) and recurrent split ends in the past, with my habit of changing shampoo and hair products as it suits my fancy & grabbing what's on sale…my scalp grew these lustrous locks!!! My hair is far from perfect, I struggle with greys. Had my first one at 23 years old! Blame it on med school. But as long as they are mostly black, I'll always maintain my raven black hair. I'm totally anti dyeing my hair any other colour, highlighting or doing any other form of colour treatment. Perhaps when I am old and grey, I'll dye my hair in rainbow colours!
Perhaps these past 2 years, it was the lack of exam stress, the calmness that over-rode the shock to system due to pandemic stress & ensuing burnout. Or maybe, just maybe…my lustrous locks were just blessed due to the underlying positive intention, the pledge I made to pay it forward to someone who is longing for hair (though in the form of wig).
So today, 29.11.2021 was that fateful day. I was a little nervous as haven't been there before & have had bad experience with hairdressers. Happy with the outcome.
After chopping the locks , got some pampering in the form of massage chair & scalp massage on top of hair wash too. That's why they are called boutique hairdresser, I guess. Not cheap, but I decided my scalp & I deserved the pampering. #bekindtomyself
Yes, I truly miss the feel of my long wavy hair whizzing away in the wind, minus the tangles after…but I'm enjoying the lighter, crisp feel that makes me feel much younger externally (am always young at heart) now too!
. Ohhh if I had no vanity I would have shaved my hair for the cause, but nah I'm not that selfless. So, oh well…I've outlined my story below as photo captions & further down in thi" 
, querying if I'm going to grow it longer & even getting sad when I mentioned am going to chop it soon. That's been the plan all along
…3 years 2 months since I was first inspired.
Go check them out!
it makes someone happy & bring them lotsa good vibes. I've been whispering to locks lately, positive vibes. 
, I know it is looooooong overdue to be donated.
, yes I'm a bad patient when it comes to medications), plus my history of some hairfall (noticed more during the days I used to rebond my hair) and recurrent split ends in the past, with my habit of changing shampoo and hair products as it suits my fancy & grabbing what's on sale…my scalp grew these lustrous locks!!!
Blame it on med school. 
But as long as they are mostly black, I'll always maintain my raven black hair. I'm totally anti dyeing my hair any other colour, highlighting or doing any other form of colour treatment. Perhaps when I am old and grey, I'll dye my hair in rainbow colours!
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