Donating my hair is the most personal way I have given back to others. Each time I donate I don't expect to do it again, yet I've donated 6 times! Imagine making someone's life a little easier while battling a disease by giving them confidence. I am so passionate about this and I'm excited you are taking the time to learn more and possibly also donate-yasher koach (more power to you). You probably also like giving back to others like me and know that your efforts are needed more than ever during this pandemic. Cutting your hair to donate is one of the easiest, quick activities (the cutting not the growing out process) you can do currently. By taking care of your hair and giving your luscious locks to another person you can bring their smile back and make them feel themselves.
When COVID-19 first struck, hair donations slowed down as there was uncertainty about the hair carrying the virus, organizations also shut down their offices. Research suggests that hair isn’t a major carrier of the virus.
Now is the time to play catch up, to make up for the time and resources lost when the hairpiece-making industry paused at the start of the pandemic. Making a wig takes about 12 weeks, cancer/alopecia didn't stop during the pandemic and recipients may have to wait longer to acquire their hairpiece now.
If you aren't able to grow your hair out you can donate to an organization that is dedicated to cleaning up oil spills. They use hair donated to create mats with hair and fur, which I mention in the charity list below.
For men, there can sometimes be a stigma when they have long hair, so I want to give a big kudos to the men out there who have grown out their hair with the mission to donate it to another person.
If you've been growing it out rather than giving yourself a quarantine cut, and want to do a mitzvah/good deed for another person, during the pandemic (and even post-pandemic) is a great time to consider not getting a trim at the salon but rather going for a bigger chop, it could change someone's life. You will also feel good in the process. This is a decision I wouldn't make on a whim. Changing your hair will impact your hair care routine and the way you see yourself. I would bring a photo to the salon of the style you want so the stylist knows what you are going for.
Causes of hair loss
Unfortunately, there are multiple reasons why someone could lose their hair. If you know someone who is about to go through chemo this link from the Mayo Clinic is helpful and goes into detail on what to expect during treatment. Many cancer treatments, like chemo or radiation, can cause hair loss, but alopecia is another disease that could make someone lose their hair. It is an immune system disorder. The person’s body attacks the hair follicles (much like it would a virus), causing the hair to fall out in large patches.
So how do you donate your hair and measure it?
Your stylist likely knows that they need to cut a bit above the hair tie towards the scalp, but always good to remind them or yourself if you are cutting the hair. Once you've washed your hair, don't put any products in it, if you decided to cut your hair wet, let it dry completely before putting it in the bag to ship. Go ahead and put the hair in a low ponytail. You'll need to measure with a ruler from where the hair tie starts to the end where layers begin and that's what the charity will be able to use in the wig. It takes about 10-12 ponytails to make a full wig.
Hair Donation Charities
Each organization has different requirements regarding:
- length of hair
- color of hair
- condition of hair
The list below unless otherwise indicated provides wigs to those in need at no cost. For more information, you can click the embedded links.
The first organization is Children With Hair Loss. They greatly appreciate all hair donations that are a minimum of 8 inches however, they have many requests from recipients for long hair replacements that require a donation of 10 inches or longer. They are my personal favorite and the organization I have donated to the most. They accept chemically treated and gray hair.
The next organization is Wigs for kids. Their minimum required donation length is 12 inches but they encourage donations of 14+ inches to create the hairpiece length of recipients' desires. They are one of the stricter organizations, no perms, no highlighted hair. If you are a girl scout you can request a badge once you donate your hair, which is pretty snazzy.
Locks of love requires a minimum of 10 inches that can be used in a hairpiece, Colored or permed hair is acceptable. Dreadlocks aren’t accepted as the blending hair process requires combing.
Hair we share has a minimum length of 12 inches but now can accept 8 inches when you join their ponytail tracking program (when you also fundraise), the hair cannot be highlighted or bleached but can be dyed (natural colors) and gray hair is also accepted. If it's important for you to see who receives your hair this is the org for you!
Next is the BeYOUtiful Foundation they require 10 inches or longer of any human hair, even if it’s been chemically treated. They accept hair that has been previously colored, AS LONG AS it’s in good condition. (Charges for a wig.)
Pink Heart funds will accept hair that is at least 13 inches long, it may be colored or permed (not over-processed or bleached), grey is acceptable. (May charge the recipient for the wig.)
When you are ready to ship carefully place the dry ponytail(s) sample in a bag and keep the hair ties on the hair to keep it intact and then complete the hair donation form. A padded envelope is a good idea to protect the package while in transit. Donors are emailed a certificate in appreciation for their kindness.
Through a charity called Matter of trust, you can donate hair, fur, and fleece clippings to soak up major oil spills and help keep storm drains and waterways clean. To donate you first sign up online at their Humanity Adding Solutions Network HumSum.net. They ask you to do this because warehouse space is limited and they cannot always accept boxes of clippings. Currently, they need ponytails that are 3 inches or longer (they are using these for the mats’ scrims – like a lacy framework we fill in with fur, fleece, etc.), and they may need to reach you in the future for emergency oil spills in your area. You can see below how the finished product looks by a storm drain.
They take donations of varying lengths, provided they are placed in a bag directly after they’re cut from the scissors rather than swept up from the floor (which can add debris).
For all the above organizations, once the charity receives the package in the mail they will process the hair and your work is done!
Celebrities who have donated their hair (click their name to see their hair donation photo)
1- Harry Styles
3- Jessie J
4- Shaun White
Feeling inspired, but not ready to chop your hair?
Consider making a monetary donation or asking friends and family to join you in donating, or you could even create an event. When I was in college I organized hair donation events where faculty, staff, and students could get a free hair cut if they donated their hair or a more affordable cut, and that money was donated to Sharsheret (a Jewish nonprofit supporting breast cancer) and the local hairdressers were generous to donate their time to work at the event.
I would love to know if you are thinking of donating your hair or have before. Feel free to ask me questions.
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