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Post by Portia
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Hey APJ Crew,
My partner Jin is a hero. When we got together he had buzz cut hair, about 6 months in he noticed that he is getting a bald spot on his crown, not severely noticeable but becoming something. He confessed that he had had a dream of one day growing his hair long but was worried about how it would look and if it would suit him. Just do it. He did. 4.5 years later he has hair down his back to his waist but now he has done his thing and the hair is actually a nuisance that is constantly up in a bun and takes him hours to wash and dry.
Jin: World’s Greatest Shave 2016
Adjacent to this story is my Mum who died in 2001 of Leukemia (Blood Cancer). This year, 2016, would have been her 80th birthday and she was born on St Patrick’s day, March 17 1936. I miss her every day and wish she had lived to meet Jin (who she would have adored) and see me drug free, happily settled with properties and making a career beyond dancing in the clubs that I love. She was deathly afraid that after clubland I would be lost.
So Jin comes to me one morning in January with this plan when the heat in the rooftops of Sydney has been scorching while he is being a sparky (Electrician). He wants to cut his hair. Not only does he want to cut his hair but he wants to do it as a World’s Greatest Shave event and raise money for Blood Cancer. On top of that he has heard that you can donate your hair to the Leukemia foundation and they will send it along to a wigmaker who will create wigs for children suffering hair loss as a side effect of their cancer treatment. He wants to do this too. He also wants to do it on my Mum’s birthday so it has extra meaning and makes the circle of the story complete. Never underestimate the people around you, if you’ve picked good people then they will constantly surprise you.
His dream was to make just over $500 for the Leukemia foundation. The Sleep Easy Badge means you’ve raised $560. That’s enough money to give a regional Australian family a place to stay close to treatment in the city for one week.
He broke that goal in under a week and then decided it would be amazing to get the Breakthrough Badge: When you’ve raised $2000, that’s enough to aid future breakthroughs by funding a major blood cancer research project, for one week!
Want to donate? You still can. Here’s the link below for anyone else, international too. Even $10 will help
LINK: World’s Greatest Shave DONATE
World’s Greatest Shave 2016: Photo Essay
Here is Jin and his fabulous hair. This is his fundraising page picture. You can still World’s Greatest Shave DONATE, every little bit helps and who knows; your dollar may be the one that funds finding the breakthrough cure for cancer.
Jin flew back from 10 days SCUBA in Thailand on the 17th morning, came home for a shower and then we went to the hairdresser.
The fabulous crew at Hair by Phd Parramatta Store offered to cut Jin’s hair for the wigmaking process for free! You can find them at Hair by Phd Parramatta (02) 9635 4721 35-37 Phillip Street Parramatta, NSW, 2150. The even offer a $25 New Customer Discount on the Phd website
It’s a beautiful, spacious salon. The staff are friendly and it is busy. While we were there every hairdresser was occupied with a very well groomed clientelle. There is an exciting, low key buzz to the place and the staff clearly love their work. Lots of happy, smiling customers leaving with new dos.
Our hero.
Meet Sarah. She is Jin’s hairdresser today. Volunteered to do this for FREE and couldn’t have been sweeter. We were laughing with her immediately and she is very happy go lucky while still conveying the kind of calm that only someone who is really good at their job can project. Fun and efficient, did I mention GORGEOUS!
Jin hadn’t washed his hair because the crew thought it best they give it a salon wash so it can go to the wigmaker in perfect condition.
LOVING the head massage. One happy hero.
Sarah sections the hair out so that each snip will get the maximum hair.
The Leukemia Foundation ask that the hair be triple banded for ease of transport and neatness. It’s quite a procedure. Sarah is so cute, she made sure the bands were the same colour down each section.
Once it was all sectioned out Jin was like, “I’m Miley Cyrus, or maybe Destiny’s Child!” Love that fool.
The first cut. Center front. There was no going back from here.
This is Jin’s happy/panic face. Poor bugger. It was a bitter sweet moment and we all could tell he was being a big tough man.
Last one!
Jin’s lovely locks
So #1 shave all over.
I think this picture captures Sarah’s spirit perfectly. She is a beautiful girl and we loved spending this momentous occasion with her. She is also a fabulous hairdresser.
Aren’t they beautiful? Jin looks so freaking hot. Like the boy I originally fell head over heels in love with. Tanned, smiling and manly. Hubba Hubba.
Please do call Sarah and book an appointment. You’ll be thrilled by Hair by Phd Parramatta Store
Above: the tails hanging out to dry. Jin’s hair has a slight wave through it and is brown, rather than the usual South Korean black. It’s beautiful, thick, soft and will go towards making some cancer kiddie a very lovely wig. Congratulations Jin, you are a hero and I am proud to be your partner.
My partner Jin is a hero.
Want to donate? You still can. Here’s the link below for anyone else, international too. Even $10 will help
LINK: World’s Greatest Shave DONATE
Australian Perfume Junkies 
What a beautiful man you have! And he looks great before AND after!
I think all of us APJ family feel honoured to be part of your lives.
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Hi there JackieB,
He’s a catch all right.
As we feel honoured that you are in our lives and part of our fragrant family.
Portia xxx
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Beyond wonderful. Added bonus that Jin looks even more stunning. ❤️
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Yes, the light of his selfless act seems to be shining out of that beautiful face.
Portia xxx
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What a great photo essay. Jin looks so handsome with his new ‘do, and Sarah is indeed a beautiful young woman. Thanks for sharing this great story with us. ❤
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Hey Francesca,
Thank you.
They make a nice couple in the shot, don’t they?
It’s nice to share, especially with you.
Portia xxx
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Thank you for a lovely photo essay and giving us a nudge. You continually surprise me Portia! I love what you said about when you choose good people they continue to surprise you. This man is a keeper.
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Thank YOU Bernadette Winfield-Gray,
How generous you are.
Jin is a keeper, he’s a good egg and I really enjoy his company (95% of the time anyway)
Portia xx
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Heartwarming Portia and Jin
P.s.
My brother is a sparky too! But he’s completely bald!!!!!
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LOVE Sparkies. They are a breed apart.
Portia xx
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Jin is so gorgeous, with or without long hair. Such a wonderful act of kindness to donate hair for wigs, after four years. This means a lot to many people Portia, and I am sure your mum would be so impressed by your life right now xo ???
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Thanks Anna-Maria.
You’re a superstar.
Portia xx
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This is such a wonderful story Portia, some kind of modern fairy tale. I love Jin’s amazing idea which honors your mother, your mutual love, children with cancer… And I love that fundraising part!
You both are very creative and kind and you deserve each other. Thank you for sharing it with us 🙂
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Hey Neva,
He really thought it out. Inspiring guy.
We are pretty lucky in so many ways.
You’re welcome. Sharing with you is a joy.
Portia xx
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Thanks Neva for your generosity.
Portia xxx
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What a great memorial fundraiser with the added bonus of the long locks for someone who really needs and would appreciate a wig. Having dealt with the big “C” myself I can understand the importance of hair! Even though I did’t lose mine, one of my sisters and several friends were and are hairless. Looking good is a big part of feeling better and getting well. Your Mom would be so proud of both of you, Portia! And you are right! Jin is a hero AND he looks gorgeous before and AFTER!
Azar xx
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Hey Azar,
One day we will read your story here at APJ. The whole process is so dehumanising that thinning hair and all the perceptions that come with it are the last thing anyone needs, adult or child.
Thank you, yes Mum would be. She was tough but fair. Jin and she would have ganged up on me mercilessly.
Handsome jin, the light of his good deed shining out of that face.
Portia xx
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Thanks Azar for your kind donation. You’re amazing.
Portia xx
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Wow what an emotional and uplifting story. Really bowled over by how Jin thought of having the cut done on your mum’s birthday.
Love how cute Sarah is in a red lip and how she took so much care over the twists, making sure the colour was even. What a star.
You deserve someone as special as Jin. What a couple.
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You know Tara,
He thinks things out in a totally different way to me. He is all about the continuing story. I think it might be his literature background.
Sarah is a doll, we are madly in love.
Thanks Tara, he’s pretty good, most of the time. He He He
Portia xx
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Thank you Portia and Jin! Jin is gorgeous both in body and soul, and he is such an inspiration. His gift will be greatly appreciated. Big hug to him,
Holly xo
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Heya Holly,
Lovely to see you. I will hug him tight.
Portia xx
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You and Jin are such an amazing couple – I am honoured to know you both. Jin’s selfless act is an inspiration and he is such a beautiful man – body and soul. Sandra xo
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We love you too Sandra. Wish you were closer so we could hang out regularly.
Portia xx
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That is so fabulous! He looks so good with that new ‘do. I had a few clients who had their hair cut for Locks of Love back when I was a hair stylist and it was so much fun to cut that much hair off at once. Total transformation and for a great cause too.
Xoxo
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Hey Poodle,
Total agreement here about Jin’s cool new look.
I never knew you worked in hair, did you love it?
My first job was sweeping, coffees and washing heads. I liked it but it’s back breaking work. I’m too lazy for that much hard yakka..
Portia xx
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Jack of all trades, my dear. I’ve still got my license and sometimes think I’d like to do it again but it is harder on the back than most people realize. So was being an EMT. That was way too much lifting and carrying. Hair was much more fun.
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EMT?
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What a love tribute to your mother. Such a great partner you have there, Portia. Obviously I don’t really know either of you, but you both seem to have truly wonderful hearts. I was fortunate to be able to donate my hair when I went pixie a la Twiggy/Mia Farrow, and I hope that it helped someone somewhere.
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Hey Sun Mi,
Jin is a great partner but we are both very ordinary people.
How lovely of you to donate your hair, it’s a really beautiful way to give something back to the world. So personal.
Portia xx
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What a great person you have in your life, Portia! And it’s such a heartwarming story. And it keeps raising money – 171%!
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Hey there Undina,
He’s a good guy, even when he’s a brat I still like him.
Portia xx
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