Kelly Honess has cut off her luscious locks to donate to Variety, an organisation which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair due to long term medical conditions.

A former triathlete, Kelly began growing her hair out when the Circular Head War Memorial Swimming Pool closed.

“I used to have short hair when I was doing triathlons,” she says.

“Two shakes and it was dry. It was the best.”

Now that Smithton Wellbeing Indoor Recreation and Leisure, or Swirl, is open and Kelly is involved, she’s always in and out of the water.

“If I’m not running water aerobics, it’s a spin class or a workout. It’s always wet or sweaty,” she laughs.

Also involved with Smithton Scouts, having long and thick hair is a hassle on camping trips. 

“I figure it’s better off on the head of a little girl who is used to having long hair,” she says. 

“I’d rather make her situation a bit brighter than dread brushing my hair every day.”

It’s not just a matter of buzzing off the locks and posting them away in a zip lock bag, however. Hairdresser Gabbi House, of Jayde & Co, had a set of guidelines to follow to ensure the hair was fit for donation.

To be donated hair must be 35 centimetres long and uncoloured. It also has to be well cleaned and knot free.

“I’m glad I made the length, it’s time for it to go,” Kelly says.

“I hope they don’t mind the grey hairs!” 

The Smithton local finds it hard to believe how much hair was on her head. Picture: Isaac Popowski.