Do you feel you are charitable, but would like to make a contribution that’s tangible and can make an immediate impact?
Consider donating your hair. You can certainly donate your hair, however, it’s an under-appreciated type of donation that requires more investigation than simply finding the closest donation box. This is also a gift that can make a significant impact on children and women suffering from medical issues, cancer, or trauma that causes hair loss.
Why Should You Donate Hair?
If someone loses their hair due to chemotherapy or because of hair loss (absence of hair) It affects more than their appearance. Studies have shown that losing hair in treatment for cancer makes patients feel sicker and impacts their self-esteem in a drastic way. 1 People suffering from naturally occurring or chemo-induced hair loss suffer from higher levels of depression and anxiety, as well as less self-esteem and a poor body image, to name just a several.
The most common option was synthetic wigs constructed from human-made fibers. They are available, but they may not have the real hair look. For children who suffer from Alopecia or chemotherapy-related hair loss, synthetic wigs might not be suitable for their smaller heads. 3
Thus, some organizations began using natural hair in order to solve these issues. This is especially true for teens and children. Locks of Love particularly promotes natural hair wigs that are suitable for children since they can be easily adapted to a child’s active lifestyle.
Unfortunately, one hair donation will not make one or a wig. This is the reason why more hair donations are required. According to the book Locks of Love, it takes anywhere from 10 to 12 ponytails for one hair wig.
This is the reason why the act of donating your hairy locks is so vital and the healthier hair is donated is the greater chance that women and children will gain confidence in fighting their fights.
But, a crucial one of the most important aspects of the hair procedure is knowing the organization that will take your hair and how they’ll use it.
Best Organizations for Hair Donation
Locks of Love is one organization that is synonymous with hair donations, however, it’s far from the only organization you could decide to donate to. You may discover that the Locks of Love donation isn’t the best match for your hair, which is why it’s important to do your own research.
The top hair donation organizations are:
- Locks of Love
- Wigs for Kids
- Hair We Share
- Children With Hair Loss
There are many choices for hair donations but they are both national donor organizations, meaning you can make donations from any location. If you’re looking to impact your community locally then you can search for local hair donations or drives.
Locks of Love
Locks of Love may be the most well-known hair donation organization. In the years since 1997 Locks of Love has produced hundreds of wigs also known as “prostheses” as they call these, each year. The company creates wigs made of real hair, especially for children, to help address problems that arise from “traditional” wigs that are too big, rough, and are not available in children’s sizes.
The charity receives a large number of locks every week, which makes it the biggest hair donation center. Find out more regarding Locks of Love donations here.
Wigs for Kids
Established in 1981, Wigs for Kids is one of the longest-running hair donation groups within the U.S. It was founded in 1981 by Jeffrey Paul and his wife they have developed children’s wigs that can “withstand typical kid activities.” They don’t make wigs for kids by outsourcing to companies, and the wigs are made for high-intensity activities.
Wigs for Kids require hair donations to be a minimum of 12 inches long. 8 See Wigs for Kids’ other donation requests as well as where to send donations.
Hair We Share
In 2014, the company was founded. Hair We Share donates real hair wigs to kids younger than 18 years old and adults who face financial difficulties. The majority of wigs are given to those suffering from medical conditions, chemotherapy-related hair loss, or have suffered burns, for example, or injuries that hinder hair growth. 9 Hair We Share has some “donation salons” all over the United States that properly cut and deliver hair. Hair that is acceptable must be 12 inches in length and must not be bleached or dyed. You may also cut and ship your hair however you should go through the procedure before you do so. 10 They also have a special “Track Your Ponytail” program to allow donors to see the exact amount they are accomplishing. 10
Children With Hair Loss
Since its inception, Children With Hair Loss has provided real hair wigs to kids and young adults who are suffering from medically-related losses in hair. 11 In 2019, they gave 608 wigs to kids across the U.S. 12 They also provide a “care kit” so that children can keep their wigs over the course of many years. Children With Hair Loss also has a large list of salon partners which makes it simple for donors to donate and cut their hair.
