Oldham woman turns salon into children's hair loss charity

Ashley-Marie Higgins says she is a "born and bred" Failsworth girl who has worked for years in her salon, My Luscious Locks on Alder Road, as a hairdresser specialising in hair loss.

Ashley-Marie said she would often hear "traumatic and troubled childhood stories" from adults who have suffered hair loss - and discovered there are few affordable solutions to help disguise or manage their "very public condition".

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She said: "They really moved me and I knew then that a change was needed".

In 2018, she trialled fitting new hair on a child and a teenage girl and said she had immediately found her "calling card" after seeing how positively it impacted them.

The families said the girls had "regained their old confidence" with their new hair.

Ashley-Marie added: "The more and more children I helped, I began to realise that my life had a meaning and a purpose - and Little Lady Locks was born."

The charity was officially registered as of 2021 and over the last three years, Ashley-Marie has run the free hair loss service for children alongside her regular clients at the salon.

Little Lady Locks is now a registered charity (Image: Little Lady Locks)

Little Lady Locks uses human hair donations and recycles old hair extensions to transform them into handmade wigs, hair systems and other hair accessories.

The personal preferences and desired look of the 'little ladies' are also taken into account as the lovingly-made new locks are fitted.

Anyone from across the country and under the age of 18 can benefit from the service.

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But Ashley-Marie said as the charity continues to grow every day, it has been "impossible" to work full-time with her charity and salon clients.

She then took the plunge to drop My Lucious Locks and combine the salon services with the charity this month.

Ashley-Marie said while her mum volunteers her time to help run the shop, the salon's staff, including its hairdressers and nail technicians, pay the charity to rent the space.

This means the clients who visit the salon are contributing to the costs of running the charity.

Celebrating the rebrand and a successful launch, the pink salon premises staged a special opening ceremony.

MTV's ZaraLena Jackson, who is an alopecia ambassador, made a guest appearance to cut the ribbon and mark the momentous occasion.

Now, Little Lady Locks is appealing to the public to come and donate their hair or hair extensions where they can even see how the team transforms the donations into wigs, hats and headbands for young girls with hair loss.

Members of the public can get involved with the charity by becoming a 'hair fairy', helping to spread awareness, collecting hair donations and hair extensions and raising money for the charity.

Meanwhile, other local hairdressers and salons can join the network and partner with the charity.

Little Lady Locks has also announced it will be hosting a ball at The Midland Hotel in September, the proceeds of which will go towards raising vital funds for the charity.

Attendees are invited to "dress to impress" in "diamonds and dickie bows" for an evening of fundraising and live entertainment.

At the event, there will be a live performance from Girls That Mix, Victor Michael and Hayley Maria while Love Island star, Kaz Crossley, will be the night's celebrity host.

If you have a story, I cover all things Oldham from food reviews and local business news to music and events, pubs, education, crime, property, health, community concerns and much more. Please email me at Olivia.bridge@newsquest.co.uk or send me a message on Twitter @Livbridge with your news.