SheKnows : SheKnows Cares : Donating your hair to cancer patients

Donating your hair to cancer patients

Get a short 'do
& do good too!
Kori Ellis

Rate this Article:
Max 5 stars
81
My Rating

Do you want to cut your long locks into a fabulous short 'do? As the weather heats up a lot of women are sporting shorter hairstyles. If you are cutting your long hair, don't just sweep it away into the trash. Instead, you can donate your hair to a worthy cause.
Hair donation


Many patients lose their hair due to cancer treatments. When a person loses their hair, they often lose some self-esteem too. That's why donating your hair to create a natural looking wig for a person in need is such a great idea.

Hilary Swank before or afterOscar-winning actress Hilary Swank grew her hair long and healthy specifically to donate it to the cause. She cut it herself (on Oprah, no less) -- and you can see how she looked a couple months before and after in the photos at right!

Donating hair for cancer patients is both easy and rewarding. You will feel good knowing that your short hairstyle has helped out someone who really needs it.

If your local hair salon doesn't have a hair donation program, you can still donate by sending your hair yourself through the mail to a national program.

If you want to donate, here are some hair donation programs that always welcome more contributors.


Locks of Love

Locks of Love takes all different hair colors and types, except grey. Your hair needs to be at least 10 inches long and sent in as a ponytail or braid. Locks of Love uses the hair to create natural looking wigs for children that would not normally be able to afford one. Visit locksoflove.org to watch a step-by-step video on how to cut, package and send in your hair.


Pantene Beautiful Lengths

Beautiful lengths is a hair donation program in both the United States and Canada. Hair must be at least 8 inches long. It can be colored with vegetable dyes and semi-permanent hair color, but it can't be bleached, permanently colored or otherwise chemically treated. It also can't be more than 5 percent grey. Visit the Beautiful Lengths website to learn more about donating your hair to women in need.


Wigs for Kids

This hair donation program creates free wigs for kids. They require at least 12 inches of clean dry hair in a ponytail or braid. Help out a child in need by donating your hair. Check out their website for hair photos and other information about donating your hair.


More cool ideas and information about hairstyles:

Kori Ellis is an editor and writer based in San Antonio, TX, where she lives with her husband and two labs, Yogi and Deuce. At SheKnows, she contributes articles to the Beauty & Style channel and several other sections. Additionally, Kori has been published in dozens of magazines, newspapers and websites worldwide, writing about everything from wedding planning to fantasy sports. She's the Senior Editor at b5media.com and the guide to Accessories at About.com.
See More Features: Go! >>
Comments
By Ruby Feb 27, 2010

Pat, Locks of Love will take your hair,

By Ruby Feb 27, 2010

I think that's great you want to make a wig for your mom. I will pray for her. And everyone else you guys have mentioned. I Want to know how long the wigs will be.

By Michelle Jan 24, 2010

My daughter is willing to cut her hair but only about 6 inches. Will anyone take this small amount?

By Amanda Isabella Jan 16, 2010

i just cut my hair and its a lot i would like to donate it. i think it will help a lot of people i lost my sister-in-law 5 years ago and i thought what better we to do something... so i need to know where i send it to..

By Daniela Jan 16, 2010

Each hair piece donated has to be cleaned in a ponytail send in a clear bag,in a padded envelope. If you want to read more information here are the websites for each organization. Looks like me website - http://childrenwithhairloss.us/ Pantene website - http://www.pantene/en-US/beautiful_lengths.jspx Locks of love website - http://www.locksoflove/ Wigs for kids website - http://www.wigsforkids/

By Daniela Jan 16, 2010

Looks like me is a United Way Foundation, hair mus be at least 8 inches. - Children with Hairloss 12776 S Dixie Hwy South Rockwood MI 48179

By Daniela Jan 16, 2010

Pantene will accept 8 inches or more to donate for cancer patients. 5% can be gray hair. Pantene Beautiful Lengths - 511 Wisconsin Drive - New Richmond, WI 54017

By Daniela Jan 16, 2010

Wigs for Kids does accept 12 inches or more, and also accepts gray hair Wigs for Kids - HAIR DONATION 24231 Center Ridge Road Westlake, Ohio 44145 Call us at: 440.333.4433

By Daniela Jan 16, 2010

Wigs for kids in Canada must be at least 12 inches Hair donations from Canada: can be mailed directly to our Canadian Chapter, Carlo Turvani at "Transitions" Salon, 244 Grantham Ave., St. Catherines, ON L2M 4Z4 their phone number is 905.937.1623.

By Daniela Jan 16, 2010

If you want to donate 10 inches or more hair this is the address for Locks of Love 234 Southern Blvd West Palm Beach, FL 33405

By pat Jan 9, 2010

how do we get answers to these questions-I have white/grey? its darker hair and would like to know if anyone will use it?

By Pam Amato Jan 7, 2010

I am a postal worker and a couple of our people donated their hair to locks of love. I thought this was awesome, so I purposely grew mine out to donate. Then I found out they don't accept gray hair. Please let me know where I can donate my gray hair so my growing it out won't have been in vain. (I have always had short hair). Thank you

By Lisa Shifflett Jan 4, 2010

I donated 10 inches of my hair several years ago to Locks of Love. I would like to donate 8-10 inches of my hair to Pantene. It's fine, straight & blonde. Hope you can use it. Let me know where to send it. Thank you. Lisa

By Jessie DiJoseph Jan 2, 2010

My 14 year old daughter just had 7 inches of hair cut specifically to donate and need to know where to send it to. We live in Cheektowaga, NY just outside of Buffalo. Anxiously awaiting your reply Thank you

By Linda.Lalonde-Chappell Dec 13, 2009

Hello, I wish to donate my hair for cancer patients who are in need of some hair to make a wig. I haven`t coloured or permed in over 3 yrs just to be able to donate it. I would like some info about where I can go In Ottawa, Ontario, Canada that will cut it and I can feel that it would go to making a wig for someone in need. Please send me some info on where ( or what Salon) in Ottawa that will do just that. Thank-You so much for your time, Linda

By Martha Shivelhoood Dec 6, 2009

I would like to donate my hair for a concer patient, however my hair is salt and pepper, I have over 12 inches so far and I am planning to keep growing until March of 2010. Is there a place I can donate my salt and pepper hair? Please let me know one way or the other. Sincerely. Martha

By Tulay Oguz Dec 4, 2009

my 5 year old daughter wants to donate her hair, please let me know where to send the hair.We are in Newport Beach,CA.

By Veronica Dec 1, 2009

I too would like to donate about 6-7 inches of hair. Please let me know if that is possible.

By alejandra meza Nov 19, 2009

i have tons of hair one i had since pre k and one that i cut just now please help me find where i can donate it

By Adri Oct 18, 2009

@Scott--I'm sorry, but really? If you want to make a pitch for something you're trying to do, please, please, PLEASE use correct spelling and grammar! Not many people will be willing to trust a person who is not capable of simply choosing the correct word to use in a sentence! I wouldn't give you my hair, or anything else. If you can't spell, how am I supposed to believe that you can organize an effective charity? I admire your desire to do something great to help people, but maybe you need to find someone else to do your advertising(spamming!).

Reply:

(required)