REAN Carter is practically unrecognisable after his 18-inch golden locks finally got the chop.
Pupils at Grange Park Primary School could be forgiven for thinking they had a new classmate when the five-year-old walked in yesterday.
Instead of sporting his lengthy blond curls, Rean unveiled his new look after braving the barber’s for the first time.
“He looks totally different, but absolutely gorgeous and he loves it,” said his mother Leeanne Smith, of South Hylton. “He’s over the moon.
“It was a bit upsetting because he’s had it for that long, but he knew it was time.”
Click here for our original story on Rean’s long locks
On Friday, Leeanne took Rean to his uncle’s Sea Road barber’s, Fellaz.
“It must have been so heavy on his head,” said party planner Leeanne, 30.
“We put it in a bag and it weighs quite a bit. It’s unbelievable.
“It now takes a couple of minutes to do his hair too, rather than having to shampoo and condition it and then de-tangle it all.”
Leeanne decided it was time for him to have his curls chopped when the school brought in health and safety regulations before the summer holidays, stipulating anyone with longer then shoulder length hair had to tie it up.
“We took him to the hairdressers four times over the summer holidays and he got himself so upset by it,” added Leeanne, who is also mum to Regan.
“We thought rather than distress him any more, we said he could go back to school after the holidays and would have to tie his hair up, but he would have to get it cut. That day has come.”
Kind-hearted Rean decided he wanted to do something for charity, and asked friends and family to sponsor him to lose the locks.
So far, he has raised almost £350 for Sunderland Royal Hospital’s children’s unit, after spending four weeks there in 2010 when he suffered a severe bout of skin condition impetigo.
Leeanne, who lives with partner Neil Carter, 48, said: “We’re aiming to raise £500 in total, which would be amazing.”
Anyone wanting to donate money towards Rean’s fund-raising, can phone Leeanne on 07527 108 314.
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