Rapunzel's Pink Hair

October is just around the corner and you know what that means — the colors of fall the reds, oranges and yes pink. It’s hard not to notice all the pink that surrounds us in October to support Breast Cancer Awareness. So how does Rapunzel fit into all of this? The Rapunzel Project is a charity designated to helping chemo patients keep their lovely locks. Plainfield’s The Edge Hair Salon will be raising money for the Rapunzel Project all of October by selling Pink Hair Extensions. These are beaded hair extensions that are a fairly simple removable extension that will be cut to match your hair length. Each extension costs $10 with 85% of the purchase going to the Rapunzel Project.

The Edge’s owner Lisa Swanson was drawn to this program for a couple of reasons the first being her mom. Right before they opened the salon Lisa’s mom was diagnosed with cancer. Since then she has undergone two surgeries and radiation treatment. “She was lucky that she hasn’t had to go through chemo but that doesn’t mean that she won’t have to in the future if it comes back,” says Swanson.

Of course Swanson isn’t the only one with a family member battling cancer. “Breast cancer awareness is a big deal in our industry because we deal primarily with women. We either have clients who themselves are diagnosed, or our clients are dealing with a mother, sister, or friend who has, or is recovering from this disease.”

With so many things you don’t have control over when battling cancer your hair can finally be one of them. This isn’t about vanity, it’s about taking control because as the Rapunzel Projects recent PSA stated, “When you look better you feel better and when you feel better you heal better.”

To support this non-for-profit charity The Edge Hair Salon will also be working with one of their styling lines Kenra by selling their popular volume hair spray in the special pink can. Kenra is a major factor as to how The Edge learned about the Rapunzel Project. “ I had heard about the possibility of chemo patients keeping their hair. Kenra was the one that made the connection with the Rapunzel Project,” says Swanson. Throughout the month The Edge will be hosting contests at local football games and their Facebook page for those sporting their new pink hair extensions with prizes from The Edge as well as Kenra.

With The Edge Hair Salon still being fairly new to the Plainfield area their hope is to be able to connect with the community and raise awareness and funds for the Rapunzel Project. The organization helps donate biomedical freezers to cancer treatment centers that are needed to keep cold caps at the required -22°F. There are currently only four centers in Illinois with these freezers. This extreme temperature is what helps slow the process of chemo chemicals reaching the hair follicles, which is what causes the reaction of the hair falling out. While the cold caps have had a 90% success rate for keeping hair intact some thinning occurs.

Help spread the word of cold cap therapy by coming on out to see Lisa and the ladies of The Edge Hair Salon to update your style with their pink hair extension or just make a donation at 13717 S Route 30 in Plainfield, IL.