CLAIRE C. LAURENCE/Arizona Daily Wildcat Environmental Science freshman Bailey Hayward smiles as she is about to make a donation to the "Locks of Love" organization. The hair will go toward the production of a wig for those who have lost theirs due to medical illness.

Apprehensive students were nervous but felt good knowing that, after cutting off more than 10 inches of hair, the sacrifice would benefit a needy child.

Free haircuts were performed at Great Clips inside the Student Union Memorial Center yesterday to help benefit the non-profit organization Locks of Love.

Two groups within the Hillel Foundation, the Jewish Law Students Association and Project Star, a community service group, and Great Clips sponsored the event, which provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children younger than 18 years old suffering from long-term medical hair loss, according to a press release.

More than 30 students of all ages, hair colors and races came out to donate hair more than 10 inches long.

By the day's end, more than 50 feet of hair was collected to benefit Locks of Love, said Megan Lichter, one of the Project Star organizers and a family studies and human development freshman.

But only $60 in monetary donations was raised for this year's event compared to the more than $500 raised last year, said Emilie Hyams, an event organizer.

Beatriz Rasco, a corporate trainer for southeastern Arizona Great Clips stores, said the event is a year-round venture for Great Clips where anyone can donate at any time. She said there are between 30 to 40 donations a month at the more than 11 Great Clips locations around Tucson.

Participants began by filling out an information card that included their name, major and interests for the children they were helping to benefit.

Event volunteers then took a "before" picture of the participants' long locks before having them sit in the styling chair. The three stylists, who volunteered without pay, measured the hair of the participants with paper rulers before wrapping their hair in ponytails and raising the scissors for the cut.

Monica Almaraz, a nursing freshman, said while she had some apprehension, the cause made it a worthwhile decision because her aunt died of cancer two years ago. She said she usually wears her hair long but may consider wearing it short after liking the finished result.

"It's for a good cause, and that's the only way I could do it," Almaraz said.

Nyomi Lei, a business economics senior, said she was referred to the event by the Arizona Daily Wildcat article on Tuesday and decided to do it to help make "a little girl happy."

Lei, who had been growing her hair out for more than five years, donated more than 16 inches of hair to Locks of Love with apprehension as she held the hand of a friend standing by her side.

"I seriously thought about crying, but I told people I would do it, so there was no turning back," Lei said. "There's an emotional attachment to my hair."

Rasco said Great Clips is always looking for good causes to be a part of and said she regularly deals with customers going through chemotherapy who are losing their hair.

"It feels great donating your time to make someone feel whole again," said Rasco, who's taken part in the event for more than three years.

Hyams, a second-year law student, said she was excited about the turnout yesterday and how the participants reacted toward their new hairstyles.

"Everyone's been happy. They all looked uplifted and refreshed afterward," Hyams said.

Sara Arcus, part of Hillel's Project Star, helped to refer students to the event by tabling on the Mall. She said she helped volunteer to benefit children who cannot help themselves.