On Wednesday, May 7, more than 20 Miller Intermediate School students, families and community members will get new, shorter hairstyles courtesy of Dobie High School’s cosmetology students.

The shorter styles aren’t to prepare for a hot summer or to start a fashion craze. These locks are being cut out of love.

Miller’s Teen Leadership program and Dobie’s Cosmetology Department are sponsoring their sixth annual Locks of Love project for the Locks of Love Foundation in Dobie’s cosmetology lab from 9-11:30 a.m. Dobie is located at 10220 Blackhawk in Houston.

Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides high quality hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss. Many recipients have lost their hair due to an auto-immune condition known as alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. Others have suffered severe burns, radiation treatment or any number of dermatological conditions resulting in long term or permanent hair loss.

“Six years ago, our campus in collaboration with Dobie began a commitment to make a difference for this cause,” said Miller’s peer facilitator Carol Baird. “It’s amazing that a project originated from the determination of one person has grown into the successful event it is today. We encourage anyone who can to come out and donate.”

Donated hair must be 10 inches or longer, so many students at Miller have been growing their hair for some time preparing for this event. According to the Locks of Love website, it takes six to 10 ponytails to make one wig.

For more information on the event or to schedule a time to cut hair on Wednesday for donation to Locks of Love, please contact Margaret Rabago at Dobie at 713-740-0370 or e-mail her at mrabago@pasadenaisd.org.