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October 8, 2008

Parrish gets a haircut

Comanche High band student donates to locks of love

Derrick Miller

COMANCHE — COMANCHE — Keegan Parrish got a haircut.

There’s nothing extraordinary in the act. People get their hair cut every day.

But after Parrish had 11 inches cut from his hair Friday, he donated those strands to Locks of Love. His hair will be used to make a wig for a child.

Parrish, a Comanche High School senior, said, “If I’m going to cut my hair, I might as well give it to somebody who needs it.”

He has been growing his hair since the end of his sophomore year. Now, 1 1/2 years later, his mission came to an end.

As a band student, Parrish got permission from his band director to grow out his hair, even though it wasn’t in the boundaries of contest uniform, to make sure it was long enough to donate.

Because he is active in band, it was only fitting for his hair to be cut in the CHS band room. Several students and faculty members gathered to watch the scissors do their thing.

Before he could donate his hair, Parrish had to have at least 10 inches to spare and keep his hair healthy. His hair was put into two hair ties before it was cut.

While he grew out his hair for Locks of Love, it wasn’t his original intention. He wanted to take after some older friends.

“I had senior friends who had long hair,” Parrish said.

But as he grew out his hair, the idea to donate it emerged and became his goal. The idea of growing out his hair like his friends wore off, and it began to revolve around donating.

When it came time to cut his hair, he was a bit relieved.

“It’s hot,” he said. “It’s not fun anymore.”

Besides being uncomfortable in the summer, Parrish said he also had problems with getting hair in his mouth. The haircut resolved this issue.

He said it was liberating to go through the process.

“I can breathe now,” Parrish said.

After his hair was cut, he still had plenty left. His remaining hair was styled and fashioned after The Joker in “The Dark Knight.”

He said having his hair cut was a big change, especially after having his long hair for a while.

“It’s kind of surreal,” he said. “It’s like, ‘Wow, I did it.’”

Although he was ready to donate his hair, he said there was one drawback to getting his hair cut.

“The one thing I’ll miss is not looking like John Lennon,” Parrish said.

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