Moses Lake girl donates 10 inches of hair
Five-year-old Emery Martinez gazes into a mirror minutes before her first haircut in Moses Lake on Saturday afternoon.
Salon Goddess stylist Jacque Jacobsen cut 10 inches of Emery Martinez' hair on Saturday afternoon. Her mother plans to donate the hair to Locks of Love. It was the five year old's first haircut.
MOSES LAKE - Emery Martinez has never had a haircut.
Her mother, Mindy Farias of Moses Lake, said when Emery was a child, she barely had any hair.
"She had three hairs on top of her head," Mindy said describing her 5-year-old daughter.
For five years, Emery's wavy, chestnut brown hair grew. It's reached her lower back.
"It's getting to the point where it's hard to maintain. She always just wants it tied up. Simple things," Mindy said.
On Saturday afternoon, Emery went for her first haircut.
Salon Goddess stylist Jacque Jacobsen braided her hair into two ponytails.
Snip, snip.
The Garden Heights Elementary kindergartner's hair was shortened by 10 inches.
Emery said her head felt lighter after the haircut.
Her mother plans to donate Emery's hair to Locks of Love, just as her aunt and friends had done in the past.
Donating her hair to others was one of the most exciting parts of the haircut, according to Farias.
"She's getting to the age where she understands what's going on. When I ask her what are you going to do with your hair, she says she's going to help other kids," said Farias.
The non-profit organization provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under 21 years old who are suffering from long-term medical hair loss, according to the organization's Web site.
"Maybe in another five years down the road, her hair will grow out really thick and crazy again. We could look into donating again," Mindy said.
Emery's aunt and grandmother were also at the salon.
To learn more about Locks of Love, go online and visit locksoflove.org.