After waiting for two years, kind-hearted 11-year-old Deborah Correia is ready to put a smile on another child's face with a gift of her ponytail.

Last week hairdresser Linda Burns of Tangles Hair Salon cut off Deborah's ten-inch long tresses ? which took two years for Deborah to grow ? for the Locks of Love charity. Her hair will be flown to the Florida charity this week.

Locks of Love takes donated human hair ? tied into ponytails or braided ? and makes it into special hairpieces for financially disadvantaged children who have lost their hair because of medical conditions.

According to the charity's website, it requires about four months and a dozen ponytails to make a single wig. When children are completely bald they need a vacuum-fitted hairpiece which retails at $3,000 or more.

Customers at the Reid Street salon watched as Deborah, 11, had her shiny brown ponytail cut off with no regrets.

Deborah, who was born with cerebral palsy, first heard about the charity through her physiotherapist in Boston.

"We decided we would give to help someone else," said her mother, Grace.

"Two years ago a person said to me there is no hope for your daughter, but I think we can do this to make a contribution and to make someone else happy."

Both Deborah and her mother are eager for her hair to grow quickly so they can make another donation to the charity.

Ms Burns, who offers free makeovers to anyone who cuts their hair for charity, is hoping to launch a haircutting event in aid of a children's charity.

"I totally support Locks of Love, anyone who wants to send their hair through charity can do so through me as I believe this is a very worthy charity to support," she said.