12-year-old donates a lifetime of growth

Skyler DeHart shows off the hair she plans to donate to Locks for Love as her grandmother, Narlene Delane,y takes a picture. Photo by Travis Williams/The Burgs

CHRISTIANSBURG — Skyler DeHart said goodbye to a lifelong friend Tuesday afternoon at Ultimate Touch Hair Salon.

Having never had more than a trim, the 12-year-old decided it was time to part ways with a portion of hair, which had grown long enough to double as a seat cushion.

Skyler decided to donate each of the four 10-inch strands to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization which provides hair pieces to people younger than 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

Skyler said she simply wanted to give her hair to someone who needed it.

Skyler’s grandmother, Narlene Delaney, said her granddaughter had become well‑known at the softball tournaments her AAU team has played in as “the pitcher with the hair.”

So it was fitting that as she undertook her first-ever haircut, several of her softball teammates, along with her family, came to witness the event.

Ultimate Touch hairstylist Mellisa Hinkley prepared Skyler’s hair and then allowed her younger brother 7-year-old Bryce DeHart to do the honors of cutting the first strand. DeHart’s older brother, 14-year-old Tanner, was then allowed to cut the second, and Skyler’s teammates took turns removing the final two strands.

Both brothers admitted they’d never really been tempted to cut their sister’s hair before, but were happy to do so that day.

Meanwhile, Skyler’s father and softball coach Booie DeHart joked that he was concerned his pitcher might struggle with her balance on the mound with her new do.

Hinkley gave Skyler’s hair a few final touches before allowing her to show it off for the crowd.

Although she had to say goodbye to the hair she’d known her whole life, Skyler said it made her feel very good to know it would have a second life with someone who really needed it.

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