At 98 centimetres Satsuma Dunlop’s dark hair stretches almost two thirds of his height.
But the grade 6 pupil from Highton will today say goodbye to his long locks after growing them out for more than eight years.
“It will be cool to see what I look like with no hair,” the 11-year-old said.
“I think my mum’s more nervous than me.”
Satsuma was two-years-old when he had his last “proper” haircut.
Mum Yoko helps him plait his hair each day and he tucks it into his jumper whenever he steps onto the footy field.
“I haven’t really ever had short hair and I can’t remember when I had short hair,” he said.
“It’s kind of like who I am, and all my friends know me for having long hair. I’m Japanese and a lot of men there have long hair.
“But I don’t like it long anymore – it’s a hassle to wash and plait it every day. [My friends] were surprised I wanted to cut it.”
Satsuma’s hair had become part of his identity, according to dad Grant.
“The more people were pushing him to get a haircut the more he was keen to keep growing it,” he said.
“Some of the kids grow it long in Japan but certainly not as long as his.
“We’re a little bit nervous that he’s cutting his hair but we’re happy he’s decided to do it for a good cause.”
Satsuma has raised more than $1400 in the World’s Greatest Shave for the Leukaemia Foundation to support the thousands of Australians battling blood cancer.
To donate: worldsgreatestshave.com
Luke Voogt
