Why should I donate my hair?
Hair donation is very important, especially to those who cannot grow their own locks. Cancer patients, accident and burn victims would really benefit from your hair. Alopecia sufferers, people who lose body hair, especially on their head, are also candidates to receive your hair.
Hair donation is very different from selling your hair. For one, you won’t profit from your donation. Another difference is that the hair won’t go to a store. It will go to a person who needs it. Find a charity, not a place of business. While hair may not make patients feel physically better, it will give them a boost of some much-needed self-esteem.
How can I donate my hair?
Once you or a stylist have cut your hair, you need to take some steps to ensure that it will be accepted. The first thing you need to do is wash the hair. This will ensure that your donation will be used. The next thing you need to do is gather up the hair and put it in a ponytail. If the hair varies in length, place in various ponytails according to length.
You should then measure your hair. Some charities require a minimum length, so breakout the ruler. If you have really curly hair, stretch it out until it’s straight in order to get an accurate measure. Package the hair in a proper manner. Once you’ve completed these steps, you may send the hair through the normal postal service.
What types of hair is accepted?
No matter the hair type, you can make a hair donation. Because people from all races and hair types suffer from hair loss, anyone can submit their hair. Remember, when you do donate the hair, make sure it is not chemically treated in any way. Hair treated with relaxing chemicals and bleach is not acceptable. Make sure the hair donationis cut before you chemically alter your existing hair.
Please note that once you cut the hair, grab it in your hand. If it drops and you try to sweep it up, it will not be accepted. Some charities will even accept hair that was cut years ago, although the same steps need to be taken in order to ensure the hair is accepted.
What do they do to the hair?
Once the charity has your hair donation, they will begin the process of preparing it for a wig. The hair will be analyzed and treated. Once the wig is sewn, the organization will match wigs to people in need of hair. Many of these people are children cancer patients. One organization’s website even said that most people who donate hair are children themselves. They insist on helping out their peers. These organizations accept human hair only. No synthetic fibers will be given to their clientele.
What if you never had the ability to grow hair? What if you have to take powerful drugs that rid your entire body, including your head, of hair? How would you feel? The simple act of donating hair can change the lives of so many people—people that don’t even know.
By Michelle Presbury