Retiring their ponytails
For charity, 8 say goodbye to long locks

Claude Thomas is a retired rock and roll singer, and he had the long ponytail dangling down his back to prove it.

He said his band, “Wanted,” used to tour with all of the 1980s hair bands, including his name dropper “Poison.”

But with his 45th birthday around the corner, those years are over and Thomas couldn’t remember when his last haircut was; he guessed junior high school.

Now he can say it was Saturday.

Thomas was one of eight Locks of Love donors at the Jasmine House, a senior living community.

Locks of Love is a national nonprofit that makes wigs from donated hair for children with medical hair loss.

“I’m a retired rock and roll star,” Thomas said minutes before the chop. “All I got left is my hair. It’s time to go.”

Thomas and his wife, Jasmine House Residence Director Julia Burley, were watching a TV special on the organization recently and decided to help. Marcy Hall, owner of En V salon and part-time hairdresser at the Jasmine House, did the honors.

“I figured if I can help, I’ll help,” Thomas said. “I have enough. I can always grow it back. It was a big part of my image, but it’s not so much anymore. Now it’s just a pain in the butt. It’s not who I am anymore.”

Burley snapped pictures during the cut and reassured her husband that he looked handsome as ever.

“You’re my hero today, honey,” she said.

“I should be your hero every day,” he replied.

Thomas wasn’t the only brave soul to sit in the chair at the Jasmine House salon.

Ten-year-old Luke Borton showed up, not looking too happy, with his mother.

She had teased him for a year that he was going to donate his long hair to the organization. Her sister handed her the newspaper at 8:50 a.m. Saturday with the notice that the donation event was starting in 10 minutes.

Borton was not thrilled.

But after reluctantly sitting in the chair and grimacing through the big cut, he finally had a smile on his face.

When it was all said and done, he said he felt “great” to have helped another child in need.

You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com.