Kiwi Designer Grows Hair for 2 Years to Donate to Charity

Kiwi Designer Grows her Hair for Two Years to Donate to Charity

Wellington fashion designer Désirée Turner has been quietly growing her hair for over two years now and has recently made the big chop. The hair she has been carefully growing will now be donated so that it can be used in wigs for those suffering from hair loss usually caused by chemo.

Désirée has chosen to do this because a little over two years ago a really dear friend of hers was diagnosed with cancer. She talks about her friend in a blog post about the cut saying that ‘Wil is the most amazing woman, honestly words cannot describe what she means to me and to everyone who knows her.’

When Wilhemina Van Der Aa was diagnosed she shaved her head before undergoing chemo.

Désirée had always hoped that none of her friends would ever be diagnosed with cancer but that if they were she would happily shave her head with them. She admits that it would have been scary but ‘I totally would have done it for her but she is not the type that would want that.’ So instead she did nearly the opposite and has been growing her for 2 years. Regular trims but no big cuts, no styling and definitely no hair dye. With her really thick hair not getting it regularly thinned out has been quite a big thing for her but has maximised how much hair there is to donate.

For women losing their hair from chemo is really difficult and can make them feel even worse at an already terrible time. Wearing a wig can help restore a bit of confidence and mean they can go places and not be constantly asked about cancer.

It takes 8 to 16 ponytails to make a wig. That is a lot of hair and a lot of donations. Désirée and her hairstylist, Miss Dom, joked as they cut her hair that because she has so much hair it would probably count as three ponytails and be nearly half a wig.

Wilhemina passed away in her home peacefully in October of 2016, leaving behind her husband and 4 daughters and countless friends who all miss her dearly. Turner has published a blog post about donating her hair, and why, to help others consider doing the same and also to think about those left behind. In this case, Wilheminas’ family who now have to carry on in life without her, without a second income and with all the expenses.

During her illness a friend started a Give a Little Campaign which is still running so that donations can be made to help the family. Désirée has offered that anyone making a donation to either the give a little campaign or freedom wigs, can email desiree@clothingbydesiree.com or use the contact form at www.clothingbydesiree.com and she will send them a chiffon scarf as a thank you.

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