Fourteen-year-old Bryce Lugo of Lansford has been growing his hair since he was born.

As a small child, his blonde locks hung in ringlets around his face.

Later, he wore his long, thick hair in a braid that hung down his back - way down his back.

This week, the incoming Panther Valley freshman parted ways with his long, flowing mane, his mom, Sherri Lugo said.

He hopes to donate the 25-inch long braid to a charity, such as Locks of Love or Wigs for Kids, to provide wigs for cancer patients or children dealing with hair loss.

The donation will be in honor of his grandmother, Eunice Rigeal, who is battling stage 4 breast cancer, she said.

Mom was more surprised that her son kept the long hair for so long, she said.

Granted, the older ladies loved his thick hair and so did the girls in school, who like to braid it, she said.

But others weren’t always kind, Sherri said, and long hair isn’t easy.

Every day, mom and dad would help wash his hair. He didn’t blow dry it out, or use products on his hair either - just kept it plaited.

Bryce’s long hair made Sherri think of Cousin It on the Adams Family - as it totally covered him, she said.

And Bryce’s dad, Pablo, has very long hair.

“Dad’s ponytail is as long as Bryce’s was,” Sherri said. Bryce was the only boy in the family to keep his hair long like dad’s, she said.

Sherri guesses it was time. Growing up he played football, keeping his hair in a braid and tucking into his jersey, she said. And now, he’s enjoying being in the band at school.

“He’s happy,” she said. “He said his head feels lighter.”

Bryce said he likes his short cut, saying he thinks he looks more mature now.

“It’s much better,” he said. “It’s much lighter on my head.”

Bryce went to Leighton Brown, of Master Barbers in Lansford, for his cut and new style. Brown is the only barber to touch Bryce’s hair - giving it a very slight trim.

Brown posted before and after photos of the cut on his Facebook page, asking people if they could guess how many years were cut off.

Most people were in the ballpark - guessing 9, 12 or more years.

One person said birth - which was the closest.

Bryce had no hair as baby, mom said.

But a fledgling blonde streak soon turned into a full head, which later fell into curls as a toddler.

“He was all curls,” Sherri said.

Bryce said he’s not worried about curls in the future.

“I’m not that worried about it. I can just play with it,” Bryce said. “Do something with it.”