The Meaning Behind ‘No Hair Don’t Care’ THON Event

Story posted February 18, 2023 in CommRadio, News by Emily McGlynn

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – On average, 65% of cancer patients lose their hair due to chemotherapy, according to Pharmacy Times. While many wait for their hair to grow back, people will wear wigs.

It’s a common practice that people will chop off their hair and donate it so it can be made into a wig. THON holds an annual event called ‘No Hair Don’t Care’ and they held it this past Monday.

For a buzz cut, it cost $10 and half of the cost goes to any Penn State organization, committee or Dancer Couple to go to THON. A local beauty salon, Evolve Studio on Beaver Avenue, volunteered to help cut people’s hair.

Andrew DelSignore, a third-year majoring in advertising, is a member of a business fraternity called Phi Chi Theta. On Feb. 5, they held their own version of ‘No Hair Don’t Care’ and he raised, on his own, $250.

“I wanted to show respect for the people who are going through a tough time by shaving my head,” DelSignore said. He described the way he felt by saying, “It was a climactic moment. It was a proud moment. I’m excited to continue those efforts during the weekend of THON.”

For THON 2022, he was supposed to donate his hair. For reasons he did not share, he could not donate. So, DelSignore grew out his hair even more for the following year. Around five inches of his hair was cut, which is worth half a wig.

Typically, ten inches of hair is needed to make a wig. He recommends people who don’t know how to contribute to get involved in this unique way.

“Doing something as simple as cutting your hair can help people feel more connected to you and not feel as alone in their battle,” DelSignore said. “It can help push them to strive and keep on pushing through.”

DelSignore’s fraternity helped shave a large chunk of his hair, even shaving the Four Diamonds logo and a heart into his head. The following week, he donated the other half of his hair at the official ‘No Hair Don’t Care’ event.


Emily McGlynn is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email esm5378@psu.edu.