Donating hair is a great, inexpensive way for people to get involved with a charity. Most hair donations are from children who want to help other children; however, anyone can donate hair. Whether you do it on your own or attend a hair cutting and donation event, you'll never regret helping someone in need.
Locks of Love
Locks of Love is perhaps the best known and longest running hair donation charity. The mission of Locks of Love is to make hair prostheses for financially disadvantaged children who suffer long-term hair loss from any illness. Hair donations must be at least 10 inches long and bound in a ponytail or braid. All hair colors (except gray) and textures are welcome. You can even donate your permed or colored hair as long as it's not damaged. If you can print the hair donation form from the Locks of Love website, do so. However, you do not need it to donate hair. Instead, you may print your name and address on a full-size sheet of paper and send it along with the hair to:
Locks of Love
234 Southern Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33405-2701
Wigs for Kids
Wigs for Kids exists to help children who are struggling with the repercussions of hair loss caused by any condition, including burn accidents, cancer or alopecia. Similar to Locks of Love, Wigs for Kids provides hair systems. The hair systems they provide allow a child to engage in normal activities without worrying about whether her hair is going to fall off. Children can even go swimming in a Wigs for Kids hair system. This organization requires 12-inch lengths of hair, but they don't accept gray or chemically treated hair. Wigs for Kids works with hundreds of salons across the U.S. that offer free or discounted services for people who are donating hair to this worthy cause. Once you've gotten your hair cut and downloaded the necessary form, you can send your hair to:
Wigs for Kids - Hair Donation
24231 Center Ridge Road
Westlake, Ohio 44145
Maggie's Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan
Wigs 4 Kids is a non-profit organization that serves children ages 18 and under who live in Michigan and are suffering from hair loss. While the program is focused on the state of Michigan, its scope is far reaching. The organization's wellness center not only provides hair systems for kids, but also provides allied health and holistic support services. Hair donations to Maggie's Wigs for Kids must be at least ten inches. Hair cannot be chemically treated or colored and it can't be more than 10% grey. If you live in Michigan, you can visit Go Green Salon, which is located next door to the wellness center. They charge $40 for a consultation, cut and style, but 50% of the fee goes directly to Maggie's Wigs 4 Kids, along with your ponytail. If you don't live nearby, you can mail your donation to:
Wigs 4 Kids - Hair Donation
30126 Harper Ave.
St. Clair Shores, MI 48082
Children With Hair Loss
Children With Hair Loss is a nonprofit hair donation charity that provides wigs for children in need throughout the U.S. The program offers both long term hair replacement packages and short-term options for children who have lost their hair temporarily. The organization supports itself through generous donations, partnering with the community and by selling branded merchandise. If you'd like to make a hair donation, ensure that your ponytail is at least eight-inches long, and send it to:
Children With Hair Loss
12776 S. Dixie Hwy.
S. Rockwood, MI 48179
Hair We Share
Hair We Share is a charitable organization that accepts hair donations that are used to create wigs for adults and children who are affected by hair loss caused by medical reasons. The group does not charge a fee to wig recipients. This group requires a minimum donation of $25 with each submitted hair donation. You can opt to participate in their ponytail tracking program by making a financial contribution of at least $125 when you submit your donated hair. By participating in this program, you'll be able to see a photo of the wig that is made from your hair. To donate, first submit a donation form via the Hair We Share website. Then, send your hair to:
Hair We Share
4 Expressway Plaza Suite
LL14 Roslyn Heights, NY 11577
Angel Hair for Kids (Canada)
Angel Hair for Kids is an arm of A Child's Voice Foundation. The foundation itself has several programs, one of which is Angel Hair. Angel Hair provides hair for financially disadvantaged children in Canada. If you are in Canada and would like to help, you can send your hair donation to:
3034 Palstan Rd., Suite 301
Mississauga, ON
L4Y 2Z6
General How-To Requirements to Donate Hair
Before you chop your hair and send it off, do make sure that you check the donation requirements of your preferred charity. In general, the following guidelines are common for all organizations that accept hair:
- Hair has to be put into a ponytail or braid and cut above the ponytail holder.
- Donation length requirements vary from eight inches to 12 inches.
- Curly hair can be straightened prior to measuring in order to meet donation requirements.
- Layers are typically okay, as long as the shortest layer is at least the minimum required length.
- Hair must be clean and dry.
- Hair cannot be chemically altered.
- Hair must be natural - synthetics are typically not accepted.
- Hair that is from the floor is unusable.
- Your cut off ponytail or braid should be packaged in a zippered plastic baggie and then put in a padded envelope
- While it's generally not required, it's always appreciated if you send a small donation along with your hair to help defray costs for the organization.
Do make sure that you read and follow all instructions carefully. If you don't, the organization will not be able to use your hair and it will have gone to waste.
Finding Hair Donation Companies
Many hair salons partner with hair donation organizations, either to host cut-a-thon events or to accept individual donations on an ongoing basis. If you'd prefer to go to a salon near you to make your donation rather than cutting it yourself, you will need to do a bit of research.
- Contact the charity to which you'd like to donate and ask if they have any scheduled events or salon partners in your area. For example, some Great Clips salons accept hair donations for Wigs for Kids.
- Reach out to salons in your area and ask if they partner with any hair donation groups. If not, ask if salon personnel might know where you can donate hair near the area where you live.
Even if you can't find a local salon that has a relationship with one of the charities, you may find one that will work with you to ensure that your hair is cut in compliance with the organization to which you'd like to donate.
A Life-Changing Donation
If you're looking to make a donation with a measurable, nearly instant impact, this is it. Donating hair to children with hair loss is a generous gesture with meaningful impact. A gift to one of these hair donation charities is a tangible contribution that can immediately change someone's life for the better.
