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Sofia's Hair with Heart challenge

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$2,163

My Goal

$2,000

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$30
Can help provide education supplies to a child experiencing financial hardship
$58
Can help fund a wig for a child experiencing medical hair loss
$93
Can help cover therapy costs for a child in need
$128
Can help fund mobility equipment for a child living with a disability

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I'm finally chopping my hair and need your support!

It's finally happening! 

After 12 years, I’ve made the decision to take the big chop and change lives!

Variety – the Children’s Charity supports kids who are sick, experiencing disadvantage or living with a disability.

I will be donating my hair to help provide wigs to those who have lost their hair, as well as raising vital funds for kids in need.

Every gift, no matter the amount, makes a difference.

Thank you for your support!

My Updates

Who will be cutting my hair?

Wednesday 9th Apr
Shout out to my beautiful hairdresser - Paula who will be cutting my hair this Saturday (12-APR)! She is a fellow Bulgarian and has been in the business for a long time. We have been preparing for this day for a few months, and the day is only 3 days away! 

I went to visit Paula today so we can go over the plan for Saturday and so she could tell you a little bit about herself in a short Q&A!

What is your name and where are you from?:
My name is Plamena but everyone here knows me as Paula, and I am from Bulgaria!

How long have you been in Australia?:
I moved here in 2001 - almost 25 years ago!

How long have you been a hairdresser?:
Oh, I have been doing this all my life! I became a hairdresser some 35 years ago. I began in Bulgaria and then continued here. I am actually still learning new techniques and styles, haha! 

When did you open your salon?:
I opened Belle Arti about 2 years ago now!

What convinced you to stay in Perth:
My husband! At the time he was offered a great job here, and so I decided to also settle my roots here. 

What is your favourite thing about living here?:
I really like the people, the climate and the city life! Tell you what though - if it wasn't for the beautiful weather I probably would have gone back home, haha!

Have you heard of 'Variety' before or "Hair with Heart" before?:
No, actually! This is the first time I'm hearing about either of them. But I do know there are a few charities that do similar business. 

Have you ever cut hair for any charity before?:
Yes! About two years ago I collaborated with Ruah Community Services, which is a non-profit organisation for vulnerable and disadvantaged people here in WA. I was giving free haircuts at their community centre. 
Also, we (the salon) are in partnership with the brand AVEDA, and for each product sold at my salon, part of the funds go for supporting indigenous communities worldwide, as many groups are helping to make the oils sold by AVEDA!

Are you excited to be a part of the final chapter of my hair journey?:
It's very emotional - yes! There is a lot on the line but I'm excited to be part of this change and to support Variety's cause! Let's get cutting ✂💟


So that's the story in short! If you would like to know more about Belle Arti visit Paula's website here:  here: https://www.belleartihairstudio.com.au/
Belle Arti in conveniently located in Perth's CBD!

A little about AVEDA:
AVEDA is an American cosmetics compant founded by Horst Rechelbacher in 1978, now owned by Estee Lauder Companies, with headquarters in Minnesota, US. They manufacture skin and body care, hair colour and care products, as well as cosmetics and perfume (internally called pure-fume). They have offices and representatives all over the world. The brand pride themselves on their environmentally conscious and friendly products and goals. 

You can read more about it as well as Ruah Community Services at the links below. 

Three days to go !!!

https://ruah.org.au/
https://www.aveda.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOori_SuSZT5QqWFOW6knoXWqxJTDx-FbTq4pEAYFJ8yGfC-nQ2qM



How long is my hair actually? And am I ready?

Tuesday 8th Apr
In the last 12 years my hair has grown from a double zero to a mid-thigh length, or 0mm to a whooping 1.2m (46 inch)! 

At my arranged cut, I am going to cut it down to the modest chin length, or just below the chin (or 30ish centimetres). 

I have so many feelings related to this change... On the one hand I am so happy my hair is going to go to a good home and make at least one child feel better about themselves... I am also excited to never again sit or kneel on my hair, which with a length like mine - you can imagine happens often! 
On the other hand, this really will mark the end of a chapter in my life. For one because I will never have such long hair again! 
Over the last 12 years so many things happened - good and bad; happy and sad; 
I moved countries 3 times and continents once. I saw friends and family pass into the next world, and I saw the births of my niece and nephews.
 I finished my bachelor's degree, I became a teacher, a model, an archaeologist, a comedian, a tech specialist; I got engaged, I became single; 
I lived through a pandemic; I lived alone; I learned new languages; I started solo traveling; I made friends from all over the world... I said goodbye to my 20s and started building my new life at 30. 
And my hair was there for all of it. The one constant in my life all those years.

So in conclusion - it is a bittersweet goodbye to the old and hello to the new. 

To many - it's just hair. But to another very many others - hair preserves your story. Hair is special, important, and magical. 

I can't wait for the next chapter 🎉 

The Significance of Hair

Tuesday 11th Mar
For the longest time, hair has been used symbolically to empower, humiliate, enable sacrifice, terrify, profess love, express deep-seeded desires, and show off one's status. 
Hair is important as much physically as it is psychologically. 
Different societies give it various significance.

In old Bulgarian lore (5th to 9th Centuries AD), it is said that hair is one of the places where we store our "orenda" which the Bulgarians believed was the magical power bestowed upon them by our God (Tangra). Hair was considered as a magnetic antennae, while the braids - an accumulator of energy. Depending on your rank in the Khaganat, you either wore one, two or 3 braids. Commonly, only the front of man's head would be shaved, while the back and top of the head would be braided. Normally that hair would be shoulder length and even for the smallest imprudence- the braid would be cut and the head would be shaved in public as to humiliate the perpetrator (NurMagazine).

In traditional Bulgarian culture (16th C onwards) a woman's hair had a deeply symbolic meaning of fertility, health and beauty, with specific hairstyles and rituals reflecting these values. Open hair was a privilege of unmarried girls, while headscarves were used by married women (Anelia Krumova, BulgarianRoots).

In many Indigenous North American tribes, hair represents cultural identity. It is considered sacred and significant to who they are as an individual, family, and community. The relationship with hair serves as a constant reminder of their connection to their culture and a distinct worldview grounded in the sacredness of relationships (Amanda Ross, TheZoeReport). 

African hair culture is also rich and diverse, encompassing a history where hairstyles communicated vital information about social status, ethnicity, and even religious beliefs within pre-colonial African societies. Braids, twists, and other hairstyles, while beautiful, also represent a heritage of identity, expression, and resistance. For example, the men of the Wolof Tribe in Senegal and The Gambia would braid their hair when going to war. In the Yoruba culture, braiding hairstyles would be used to communicate with the Gods {Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage).

In many cultures, hair represents not only beauty but also strength, and deep connection to community and belief. 

Losing ones hair in some cultures can be detrimental not only to a person's image but also to their community standing.
One of the typical punishments for women in Bulgaria, and other European countries, is precisely cutting or shaving of the head hair. 
In France, during WWII, women who had had relations with German soldiers, were publicly shamed and had their heads shaven, to serve as a reminder of their betrayal to their country. 

While this is a cruel form of psychological punishment, it shows you the great importance of a person's hair. 

Many of the stories shared here on Variety talk about the bullying a lot of these children and young people have experienced, on account of not having hair and looking different from their peers. 
While it may not be of cultural significance for everyone, it is certainly of great personal importance. 

Charlotte's story tells us about how she started losing her at the young age of 7 and how it subsequently affected her through her teen years. The way she describes how Freedom Wigs changed her daily life shows you what a big effect these things that most of us take for granted have on a young person. I am glad that she is doing better now as a young adult even if going through the endless ups and downs of living with alopecia. 

I hope with this short essay of mine, you can see how your support is not about simply appearances but that It is about changing and even saving lives. 

Thank you for reading 💕

If you would like to read more about the cultural hair styles and stories I mentioned, follow the links below!


Old Bulgarian Lore: 
https://nurmagazine.vaklush.org/%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F/2008/%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B9-2-2008/%D0%B4%D1%83%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B1%D1%8A%D0%BB%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%8A%D0%BC-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%85%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%8F%D1%82-%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%8A%D0%BC-%D0%B2-%D0%B1%D1%8A%D0%BB%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B8-22008



A Hairy Journey

Wednesday 5th Mar
This is a post in commemoration of my hair and the adventures we have had together. 

As you might have seen in my first post, I have done A LOT with my hair! 

I have had it red, black, orange, purple, blue, rainbow, half-blonde (which to this day is my favourite look), with stripy highlights;
I've shaved it, cut it to a bob, cut it to a pixie cut, had it at classical length; had it curly, had it perfectly straight, had it in a mullet (which was very short lived); I've had it in tiny braids, twisty braids, thick and thin braids; space buns, ballet bun, and almost whatever else you can think! 

Over the years I have had so much fun with my hair. I have received countless compliments too.

For a long time I never truly understood or appreciated the value of hair. In my culture, a woman's hair is extremely important and is almost considered the most beautiful thing about her. 
Having long, thick, shiny hair has always been one of the most important features of Bulgarian women. 

Over the last 12 years I have learned the values and meanings of hair. How it not only changes you but changes how people perceive and treat you. 

When I first shaved my head, there were a lot of people that were outraged but also many that were in awe, and some that approached me with curiosity. The way people treated me when my hair was long versus when I shaved my head was vastly different. Some were very positive - some were very negative. 

Interestingly enough, now that my hair is so long, they also treat me differently, all the while - in the same manner. With curiosity, awe, positivity, and also negativity. 

Hair can define us in the eyes of others in ways I couldn't imagine when I was younger. It has been quite a journey.

All I can hope, is that whoever gets my hair will have many fun adventures and experiences with it - just like I did all these wonderful years. 

Introduction

Monday 24th Feb
The year was 2013 when I finally got the chance to shave my head. 
I had been dreaming of this moment ever since I could remember. Honestly - I couldn't tell you why! It was just something I had always been obsessed with but in my culture, a woman cutting her hair was a horrible thing - let alone shaving her head! 
I got literal death threats from family members and "friends" if I shaved my head! So for years I lived in fear. Until I moved to Scotland. 

In Scotland, I would like to say - I found myself. I felt comfortable to express myself and allow myself to be the authentic open-minded person I am. 

So in 2013, during the Fringe Comedy Festival, I finally did it!
The night before, I cut my hair and the next morning I went to a small barber shop owned by two Azerbaijani brothers. 

I sat in the barber chair and I told my barber: "Shave it all!" 
- "You want #2 - #3?" - he asked.
- "No - I want zero!" - I replied.
- "How #0?! A woman MUST have hair!" - he protested with a furrowed brow.
His brother then scolded him in their language. The two brothers proceeded to have a short but heated argument above my yet unshaven head, when the older one turned to me and said:
- "You want zero? Nothing left?"
- "Yes!" - I replied enthusiastically. 
- "OK! Wait until I finish with this man and then I shave you."

Before I cut my hair and shaved my head, my hair was just below my shoulders - a fairly decent, normal length.

After my shave, everyone asked me: "Did you shave for charity?" - I was speechless! No one told me I could donate my hair!! 
Growing up in Bulgaria in the 90s and early 00's, I had heard of people selling their hair but that was all. We barely even had charity fundraisers, at least to my knowledge. 
So when I found out that instead of donating my hair to someone who would really need it and make use of it, it went into the garbage of a small barbershop... I felt endlessly guilty. 
It was then that I decided that after I have a little fun with my new bald head, I would grow my hair twice if not three times the length it was before my shave, and then - I would donate it!

I chose Variety for my cause because I really love that they work with children, and especially that they provide grants for the families with children in need of wigs so the children themselves get said wigs completely for free. 
I have seen many little girls look at my hair in admiration. My niece has called me "Rapunzel" or "Princess Sofie" on many occasions which, I must admit - makes me feel very special. 

I have taken very good care of my hair over the last 12 years and I hope that, once my hair is turned into wig, many children will get to feel just as special and beautiful. 

I will be posting more and regularly over the next 47 days so stay tuned and thank you for supporting me and the children's charity "Variety" 

With love,
Sofie 

Thanks for all the support

$135.04

Barry Downes

Great work Sofia, this is an awesome cause!

$135.04

Tim Robins

Good luck Sofia

$106.12

Tenneale Craker

You are a superstar. I hope you hit your target.

$106.12

Bruce Bob Mackenzie

All the best to you Sofie. What a noble cause to undertake making such a momentous decision to lop those locks off. May your donated hair provide some joy to those kids that need wigs. ❤️

$106.12

Roger Masters

$96.15

Anonymous

$62.57

Anonymous

Good luck and awesome efforts for these kids. Hope this helps

$62.57

Minhaeng Cho

$62.57

Ann Ap Team

Sofia, you are an inspiration and brave :)

$61.18

Dylan Lee

$58

Anonymous

$58

Pedro Larranaga

Amazing initiative Sofiya

$58

Kelly Diep

$58

Anonymous

$58

Ben Jones

$58

Ben Harrison

The buzz cut is gonna bring back old memories!

$54.12

Aaron Apfel

$54.12

Dave And Anne-marie Tassell

$54.12

Brooke Weedman

$54.12

Marijke Liddle

$51.74

Roberto Londero

$50

Belle Arti Hair Studio

$35.50

Anonymous

$33.15

Anne

Go Sofia! Your hair will make someone (or even multiple someones, knowing your hair ;-)) very happy!!

$33.15

Yvonne Power

I hope you reach your goal and thank you for helping such an amazing cause.

$33.15

Sofia Black

$33.15

Anonymous

$33.15

Jeffrey Aldrich

Great job! You’re helping a lot of people.

$33.15

Suren Gunasekera

A truly inspiring initiative, great work Sofia.

$30

Anonymous

$30

Anonymous

Weehee~

$30

Allen Lee

GoGo Sophie!!!

$30

Georgie Wye

On ya Sofie!

$30

Vicki Hedderson

$22.58

Lucas Carreira

$22.58

Jason Morgan

$22.58

Milen Milanov

I asked her for one hair from her golden head. She gave me three.

$20

Johan

2025 ❤️

$20

Alexander Sokolov

$20

Matthew Sheppard

Amazing work for a great cause. Thank you.

$16.80

Anonymous

$11.65

Anonymous

$11.65

Melissa Wareham

Well done Sofiya, you have gorgeous hair, I'm sure it will make a lot of sick kids feel amazing

$11.41

Martin Kupenov

❤️