Donating hair to cancer patients is a wonderful thing that makes you feel good inside. It doesn't take a lot of your time, and it won't cost you any money. It gives the patients more comfort, confidence, and a sense of normalcy through a difficult chemotherapy treatment process.
Below are two of the most popular places known to accept hair donations for cancer patients. These places turn your hair into wigs and make them available to patients either free of charge or based on a sliding scale according to the family's financial situation.
Locks of Love
Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to disadvantaged children that have cancer. What a wonderful endeavor. Their mission is to return confidence and normalcy to these children by using donated ponytails. It takes 6 to 10 ponytails to make one hairpiece.
You can have your hair cut at a salon or at home as long as the guidelines are followed. The hair cannot be bleached or highlighted. It may be colored or permed, though. Basic instructions include:
- Hair must be clean and dry
- Put hair in a ponytail at the nape of your neck
- You must have at least 10 inches of hair from tip to tip
- Cut the hair above the rubber band so it stays in a ponytail when cut
- Put the hair in a plastic zip bag
- Mail in a padded envelope. Include the donor's name and address. You can download a donor's form on the website.
Mail the hair to Locks Of Love at:
2925 10th Ave. N
Suite 102
Lake Worth, FL 33461
Beautiful Lengths
Another organization that provides wigs to cancer patients is Pantene's Beautiful Lengths. The requirements here are not as stringent as Locks of Love, but what they do outline needs to be followed in order for your donation to be accepted.
- Hair must be clean and dry
- Put hair in a ponytail at the nape of your neck
- You must have at least 8 inches of hair from tip to tip
- Cut the hair above the rubber band
- Wavy hair is accepted. Straighten it out to measure for the 8 inches
- Place hair in a zip bag
Gray hair and chemically treated hair is not accepted at this location. The reason for these requirements is that gray hair and chemically treated hair do not absorb dyes at the same rate. They are trying to create the most realistic-looking wigs they can with a consistent color.
Mail the hair in a padded mailing envelope and include the donor's name and address. Mail to:
Pantene Beautiful Lengths
511 Wisconsin Drive
New Richmond, WI 54017-2613
How the Wigs are Made
Donated hair goes through a lot more than you might think. After the organization receives your ponytail, it is then sanitized with chemicals. Then it is ready to have the shorter hairs separated from the longer ones. The longer ones are then blended in with other ponytails to make a wig. The shorter lengths are saved to make wigs for boys and men.
Once they are blended together to make a wig, the child's (or adult's) head is measured using a plastic mold. That way the wig will look the most natural. Using this mold, the base of the wig is made from materials safe for swimming and playing. Then the hair is put into this foundation. It is a very slow process, usually taking anywhere from 60 to 85 hours.
Most of the places to donate hair benefit the children. They are the most emotionally affected by the loss of hair. A wig gives a child some sense of worth, some sense of self, and more self-confidence. Donate your hair today, and you'll love your new short hairstyle, as well as showing an unfortunate child you care.
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