Staff writer
Self-proclaimed old-time rock-and-roller Rich Fine of Marion sports a full head of black and silver hair, cutting it every two years or so. Friday was cutting day, but this time Fine donated 12 inches to Locks of Love after a visit to Miles by Design.
Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides wigs to financially disadvantaged people under the age of 21 within the United States and Canada suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
His cousin, Matt Garcia, who regularly donates hair to Locks of Love, prompted Fine’s first donation, and at 12 inches, Fine surpassed the minimum requirement by two inches.
“I’m just a man that can grow hair and I needed a haircut,” Fine said. “Mine was a very small donation, but if you can grow it you should consider donating it. Grow it long. Grow it shaggy. Be a hippy.”
Fine’s hair was down to the middle of his back, and was shaggy enough for him to be tired of messing with it.
According to his wife, Vickie, he regularly grows his hair long and gets a haircut about every two years.
“We’ve been married for 25 years now and I have seen his hair all lengths,” Vickie said. “When we first met his hair was down to his waist, it was longer than mine. Five years later, he went and got a flat top. The only way I haven’t seen him is bald.”
When Fine walked into Miles by Design, cosmetologist Kaylee Miles said she thought he just wanted a regular haircut.
“When I found out he wanted to make a hair donation I was really excited because we don’t typically get guys in here who make hair donations,” she said. “We just tied it in a pony tail, snipped it off, and sealed it in an envelope to send off to Locks of Love.”
Fine said he wears a hoodie now in place of all that “salt and pepper” that insulated his head against the cold. He plans to grow his hair out again until his next biennial cut.
“I’m an old-time rock and roller, so I kept my hair long,” Fine said of why he continually grows out his hair. “I’m a child of the ’80s. I was always into ‘hair bands’.”