"I feel like a new man."
So said Wanganui's Anthony O'Leary on Monday night - and he certainly looked like a new man after being shorn of his giant mop of dreadlocks.
Mr O'Leary made the decision to cut off his locks to raise money for Blue September, a charity supporting men
with prostate cancer.
Supported by family and friends, the deed was done at Hair Technique by Mr O'Leary's wife Chloe and salon owner Alison Murray.
Despite saying he wasn't nervous - "I've been trying not to think about it" - Mr O'Leary's face showed a different story as the two women got to work with their scissors.
He begged Mrs O'Leary to leave the last dreadlock in place, but she was unrelenting.
After having the remains of his hair shampooed and cut by stylist Emily Schipper, Mr O'Leary admitted he liked his new, lighter do. His friends and family clapped and glasses of bubbly were shared.
Mr O'Leary offered individual dreadlocks for sale through Trade Me and while not many of the 110 were purchased, he did receive numerous donations for the cause from both individuals and businesses.
So far he has raised around $1800 for Blue September, which he described as "a good, manly cause".
Mr O'Leary has had dreadlocks for about three years, regularly waxing and twisting them. All up, they weighed about half a kilo.
"My head certainly feels lighter," he said.
