(Be) // Breast Cancer.

I've had three clients in my almost 9 years of being a hairstylist who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Ashley Doran was the first and Stephanie Odom is the most recent.

Both of these women have been coming to me for many years. Around the same time Ashley was knee deep in chemo, Stephanie had come to me and professed the desire to grow her hair as long as possible so that she could donate it.  Her aunt had recently been diagnosed as well and she was inspired by this idea.  Fast forward to June 2nd, 2011 when I get an email from Stephanie about how she wasn't going to be able to make our next appointment (a fun color change that we were both very excited about) having received the news of her diagnosis. Instead, we would be finally making that donation.

 












It was three summers ago that I made a house call and shaved Ashley's head in her back yard.

Today, I cut off all of Stephanie's lovely hair into a cute little do while making quite a sizable donation to Locks of Love.  




Both women had double mastectomies and chose chemotherapy.  And both also decided to take the "preemptive stike" approach to their impending hair loss... 

Ashley chose to go completely bald while Stephanie wanted to try a funky short cut  before beginning chemo.

One of the neatest parts about today is how they both happened to schedule back to back appointments; Stephanie at 1pm and Ashley at 3pm.



SO, I had Ashley come in a bit early to met and talk with Stephanie. It was a delightful conversation that only two women who have known breast cancer can have...honest, candid, funny, and inspiring.

Two amazingly strong women... Ashley is now cancer free while Stephanie is just beginning her journey.  You can read more about Stephanie and her story by visiting her blog!  I am thankful to know them both, to call them friends, and celebrate their lives and beauty on this day! 

(Lov)e,

-k.