Jackson Briggs holds up one of his pony tails, cut off for Locks of Love.

Photo Credit: Briggs family

Jackson Briggs after his hair cut

Photo Credit: Briggs family

Jodi Briggs grins as she prepares to cut off son Nate's hair

Photo Credit: Briggs family

Nate Briggs after his hair cut

Photo Credit: Briggs family

GRAFTON, Mass. - When Jackson Briggs showed up for his first day at Grafton Middle School after the summer, a few of his friends wondered why the new kid with the short hair cut was greeting them by name.

Jackson, 11, spent the last year growing his hair for the express purpose of donating its length to Locks of Love, a non-profit which provides hairpieces to children suffering from medical hair loss. It was a cause that was also adopted by younger brother Nate, 7, who is now also sporting a shorter hair style.

"My head's a lot lighter and it feels much more cooler," said Jackson, who was inspired by a friend in Philadelphia. "I waited a long time for this."

According to father Josh Briggs and mother Jodi Briggs, who performed the actual cutting, the boys' hair ranged in length from 8-12 inches. Locks of Love will take ponytails that are a minimum of eight inches.

"People said I looked like a completely different person," Jackson said of his classmates at Grafton Middle School.

For Nate, his head feels "exactly the same," but he surprised his karate teacher with his new look.

"He kind of did a double take -- he said I looked a lot different," Nate said.