How many people can it help? Which organization is best? The first two times I donated my hair, I sent it to Locks of Love. But hearing they sell wigs to make a profit gave me pause. Locks of Love doesn't charge kids for the wigs — but they do sometimes sell the hair if it's too short or grey.
Once I dug into why, though, it made sense. Although the shorter hair cannot be used in the hairpieces, it greatly helps to reduce costs," the organization says on its website. Another FAQ answer reads: "We can accept donations of gray hair. Because we only provide hairpieces to children, we cannot use this hair in a hairpiece but will sell it to offset our manufacturing costs. The third time I donated my hair, I chose Pantene Beautiful Lengths , an organization that partnered with the American Cancer Society to distribute free wigs to cancer patients.
She continued: "Due to these advancements, patients have told the ACS that synthetic wigs are now their preferred wig choice. This change in patient needs has resulted in decreased demand for real-hair, and the time has come for us to wind down the Beautiful Lengths program. So this time around, I asked the ACS to recommend other organizations to donate to.
Here's a breakdown of five hair donation nonprofits they suggested:. Deciding which organization to donate your hair to is a personal choice. I went with Children with Hair Loss this time because I had 10 inches of hair, I wanted to help kids nationally, and I liked that they don't charge anyone for wigs. Read more : I saw brain cancer erase someone I love — and it shows why healthcare coverage is so crucial.
Once you send your hair in, generally speaking, the organizations process it and send it to a wig manufacturer. A Pantene spokesperson told Business Insider in that once Beautiful Lengths had enough hair donations at its collection location, they would send a shipment to Hair U Wear, one of the largest wig manufacturers in the world.
Hair U Wear made the wigs at its factory in Indonesia and then shipped them back to Pantene, which gave the well-traveled hair to the American Cancer Society to distribute at its wig banks across the US. If the recipient is willing, you could even get a photo of them wearing the wig made from your hair. In , Jessica Melore , 34, described losing her hair as "an outward manifestation of being sick. After finishing chemotherapy for her third bout with cancer, she said getting a wig was an important boost for her wellbeing, making her feel like herself again.
Before she lost her hair, Melore donated it and got a wig from the American Cancer Society all in the same day. She broadcast the experience on Facebook Live:. Melore said her insurance company didn't cover the cost of the wig the second time she wore one after chemo treatment, which shocked her. That's why Melore was so grateful for the ACS's support. Patti Allen, the senior director of mission delivery for the ACS of New York and New Jersey, told Business Insider in that while they have styles for both sexes, mostly women come in for wigs.
Again, be sure to review the specifics for your organization of choice before those scissors come out! Your donation must meet the minimum length requirements of that organization. Carefully read the hair donation requirements for Locks of Love or for your respective organization to make sure your hair is long enough before it gets cut.
Locks of Love requires a minimum of 10 inches of hair to make their hairpieces. Longer is always best! Know that it takes many hair donations to make a single wig, so offering more length gives better options in the wig creation process. First, know that your hair must be completely dry! You cannot donate wet or damp hair; it gets moldy and will be thrown away. If your hair is layered or angled, try to separate the same lengths into ponytails for ease upon receipt.
My angled ponytails are likely too short for Locks of Love to use in their hairpieces, but they could sell those to offset some costs. Another reminder: Your hair must be clean and dry before you cut it! Remind the salon when booking and again when you arrive that your hair must be cut while dry. After you have your ponytails cut above the elastic, you might also want to wrap an elastic around the middle and end of each ponytail to keep the hair together more easily.
Depending on where you donate your hair, you should check the submission requirements for where and how to submit it. To donate to Locks of Love, you can print and fill out the Hair Donation Form and mail it in with your ponytails.
The ponytails should go into a ziplock bag if possible. Donating your hair to Locks of Love, or to any similar organization, is a simple way to do something good. Can I donate dreadlocks? How many ponytails does it take to make one hairpiece? Can I meet the child who receives my hair? Is my hair donation tax-deductible? Can I include pictures with my hair donation? If I send in pictures, will you post them on your website? How long will it take for me to receive acknowledgement of my donation?
Can I donate my hair to make a hairpiece for a family member or friend?
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