Trio trims tresses for Locks of Love

Robert Villanueva

Laura Kasparie, owner of The Chop Shop in Elizabethtown, cuts Chrissy Nall's hair to donate to Locks of Love. Nall agreed to grow her hair to make the donation when her sister, Amanda, decided to do so three years ago. They were also joined by their mothe

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Robert Villanueva

Marissa Nall, left, and her daughters, Chrissy (center) and Amanda, hold the hair they had cut Friday at The Chop Shop in Elizabethtown to donate to Locks of Love. The family members decided three years ago to donate their hair and let it grow out for tha

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By ROBERT VILLANUEVA rvillanueva@thenewsenterprise.com ELIZABETHTOWN — Last Friday, Amanda Nall gained a high school diploma after losing more than three years’ worth of hair growth. Amanda, 17, decided during her freshman year in high school to get her hair cut to donate to Locks of Love, which provides hairpieces for economically disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss. She graduated from Central Hardin High School Friday night. Inspired by her decision, Amanda’s mother and older sister decided to do the same thing when Amanda first announced her plans. They joined her in getting their hair cut at The Chop Shop in Elizabethtown Friday morning. All three Elizabethtown residents entrusted the cutting of their hair to Laura Kasparie, owner of The Chop Shop. “I think Laura gave them their first hair cut,” Amanda’s 39-year-old mother, Marissa, said. Kasparie has owned The Chop Shop for 16 years and has been cutting hair 18 years. She praised the decision by Amanda and her family. “I think it’s great, just wonderful,” Kasparie said. “They’re good people.” At least 10 inches of hair have to be available to donate to Locks of Love, and the hair has to be put in a ponytail before cutting, Marissa said. For Amanda, the choice to make the donation came from personal events. “I had a friend who had cancer,” Amanda explained. She talked with her friend and found out she had received a hairpiece from Locks of Love. “We have a couple of friends who have done it, and they told us about it,” Amanda said. That got Amanda thinking about donating her hair to the organization. “We were standing at the bus stop when we decided it,” Amanda said, referring to her sister. “And Chrissy said, ‘That sounds like a good idea. I’ll do it, too.’” “Plus, my hair grows pretty fast,” Chrissy, 18, said. Amanda and Chrissy described their father’s reaction to the decision as skeptical at first but supportive afterward. “And he was like, ‘It’s your hair,’” Chrissy said. Marissa was so impressed, she agreed to join Amanda and Chrissy in their decision. “So we’ve all been growing our hair out, and we wanted to do it together,” Marissa said. They also have support outside the family. Chrissy said friends have responded well to their decision. “They’ve said the same thing: ‘That’s awesome,’” Chrissy said. Because recipients of hairpieces from Locks of Love can be cancer patients, their decision has even more personal significance since the Nalls have had family members who had the disease. As Kasparie cut the ponytails, the trio expressed no regrets or anxiety. “It’s definitely going to be cooler for the summer,” Amanda said, just before getting her hair cut. She did not worry about such a drastic change for her graduation day. “Our hair grows fast,” Marissa said. All three indicated they might be back in another three or four years to do the same thing. “I’m really proud of them for doing it,” Marissa, said. “It shows they care about other people.”   Robert Villanueva can be reached at (270) 505-1743.