Hair today, gone tomorrow

Long hair rested on the shoulders of a Lake County Sheriff’s Office narcotics detective early last Thursday morning.

By 10 a.m., hair a little longer than peach fuzz remained on the man’s head.

The detective, whose name was not released, had to make some changes as he’s being reassigned in the near future.

He said he knew at the beginning of his assignment with LCSO that he wanted to grow his hair long enough that he could donate it when the time came.

Prior to getting his long, luscious locks cut, the detective said that he grew out his hair for two years and three months.

Twelve small bunches of hair measuring 10 inches long were donated.

There was no strategy for the detective taking care of his hair, he said, but he did come to appreciate the work that women put into with their tresses.

“I’m not judgemental of my wife’s time,” he said.

He let his hair grow on its own with no special chemicals or process, but rather just “let the Norwegian genes shine.”

Cutting his hair was cosmetologist Lisha Fitzpatrick of Main Ideas Salon, 217 Main St. in Polson.

The detective shared that not too long ago, he was in an office with other male law enforcement officials when colleague leaned over and touched his hair, impressed by how soft the tendrils were.

“That’s really nice. What do you use?” the man asked.

The investigator said that after a moment’s pause, everyone in the office looked at each other, realizing the comedy of the scene. “A bunch of dope cops talking about how they take care of their hair,” he said, laughing.

THE DETECTIVE said that while he won’t miss the hair, he’s noticed over time that people have grown fond over the feature.

Over the last two years, people would tell the detective he looked “ridiculous,” but when he began telling them he was going to cut his hair off, they became emotional, sad to know that he was planning on having a haircut.

There have been a couple of “close calls” as the detective’s hair has grown, he shared.

When he would throw his gunsling over his shoulder when he went hunting, his hair would normally catch under the strap.

One time as he was going through a doorway, the gunsling caught his hair and he recalled thinking “Boy, this would be a dumb way to go out ... Having your hair caught in your gunsling.”

Perhaps the most important lesson over the last two years has been that of patience.

Recalling that sometimes longer hair causes a delay, the detective said that he appreciates the work his wife puts into her own mane.

“I’m not judgmental of my wife’s time,” he said, chuckling.

Once Fitzpatrick was completed with giving the officer his new look, he commented on how it felt to look in the mirror and see a familiar face and head.

“It feels good. If feels like the normal me,” he said.

To know if one can donate their hair, they must be able to pull it straight and have about 10 inches.

Hair must be clean and dry with no perm or dye. Gray hair is accepted.

Anyone can call Mane Ideas Salon for a consultation to see if their hair meets requirements to be donated.

A haircut for those who qualify to donate their hair will be half-off through August.

The staff at the salon said that if hair doesn’t meet requirements and the person still wants to donate, monetary donations are accepted through August.

Monetary donations can also be dropped off at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, located on the lowest level of the Lake County Courthouse.

Checks should be made out to Wigs for Kids.