It’s something we all take for granted, and for us women, having it can even feel like a curse. But what if you woke up one morning to find all of your hair missing? Unfortunately, this is what many people face when undergoing medical treatments like chemotherapy after being diagnosed with incurable diseases like cancer or alopecia areata, or long-term medical hair loss.
What are the options for those who suffer from this type of permanent hair loss? Wigs and hairpieces can run as much as $1,000 sometimes. For people whose money is wrapped up in medical expenses, this is not an option. Today many patients, especially children, are relying on people who donate hair for their chance at a good (or even bad!) hair day.
There are many ways to donate your lovely locks. Nationwide organizations like Locks of Love specialize in accepting donated hair from all over and creating wigs for cancer patients. Locally, you can give your hair at participating salons. Girl Scout troops, high schools, college campuses, local sports teams, hospitals, and even prison inmates have been known to hold “hair drives” for the cause.
There are many donation spots accessible online as well as in your community. Perhaps the most popular hair donation organization is Locks of Love, a Florida based charity that started in 1997 by a woman who, along with her daughter, suffered baldness from alopecia. Today the majority of LOL’s donors are children who wish to donate to help other less fortunate children. Wigs for Kids is another non-profit, online charity resource based in Ohio that offers hairpieces for children affected by hair loss. The website accepts donations in hair and monetary form, applications for hair replacement, information on how to adopt a child in need, and a list of salons that participate in the Wigs for Kids program.
Special Kids Fund is another nationwide charity consisting of a coalition of hospitals, schools, and special service organizations that specializes in assisting disabled and special needs children. Members of SPK’s “ Founders Circle” include Jason Alexander and Ben Greenfield of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. They accept any types of donations, from money to cars.
It’s not hard to donate hair, but there are requirements. Most places require a minimum length of 10 inches tip to tip. The hair must be clean, dry, bundled in a ponytail or braid, and placed in a plastic bag and put in a padded envelope if shipping. Bleached or chemically damaged hair is not accepted, but permed or color treated hair usually is. Layered hair can be divided into multiple ponytails for donation. Even hair that was cut years ago can be used as long as it has been stored in a plastic bag. Because it takes several ponytails to make one wig, it is not possible to find out or meet the person who receives a wig made with your hair. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that your hair will be used to manufacture a wig. Hair usually cannot be returned to the donor if it hasn’t been used.
By Kelley Caner