But Ava Manning is happy to do so if it means girls suffering from Alopecia Areata can experience what it feels like to have hair again. 

The Tuncurry Public School student recently had 35cm of her beautiful red locks cut off for the Princess Charlotte Alopecia Foundation. Her hair will be used to make a wig which will be given to a sufferer. 

Alopecia Areata is believed to be an autoimmune disease under genetic control which disrupts the normal biology of the hair follicle. Treatments for the disease vary and currently there is no cure.

Ava became interested in cutting her hair for the charity after her cousin Katherine donated her hair back in 2012.

“My cousin Katherine did it and I decided I wanted to do it one day too,” she said.

“I thought it would be a good thing to do for people who can’t grow hair.”

Ava says she hopes to inspire other young girls to do the same.

“I have a friend with really long hair at school and I asked her about doing it so hopefully she will,” she said.

“I think it would be good if more girls did it.”

Lane Hair and Beauty’s Mandy Mooney said in the past she had held hair cutting events at local schools in a bid to encourage more girls to donate to the charity. She said she was always on the lookout for more girls willing to donate their hair. 

“It’s a big thing for a young girl to do something like this,” she said.

“As a hairdresser I know what girls can be like with their hair especially the younger ones. It’s hard to part with.

“But it all goes to such a great charity. It’s a worthwhile cause that helps many girls so I encourage more to consider getting on board.”

For more information visit the Princess Charlotte Foundation visit: www.princesscharlottealopecia.com