How To Donate Your Hair

There's been a lot of publicity over the past few years related to hair donation, including Hillary Swank's highly public hair cut on Oprah. Before you take the plunge and donate your hair, however, make sure you do your homework in choosing a charity, take great care of your hair and have lots of patience!! Hair only grows about half an inch a month, so it takes a while to get those eight-12 inches needed to donate.

I decided to grow my hair out to donate to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program myself. Forty is coming up soon and I plan to chop my hair off when I hit that milestone. So I have the opportunity to grow and donate my hair twice. (First time was Memorial Day weekend! Love my new do!) The program appeals to me because it gives away the hairpieces, and it's the only one I've found that supports adult women. (Of which I am one!)

Below you'll find a list of charities that accept donated hair, tips on growing your hair out, resources for choosing that new hairdo and more!

Three Easy Steps 

It's just that simple to donate your hair

This lens has a lot of information related to donating hair, but the whole process boils down to three easy steps:

Hair Donation: Step One
Choose your charity to donate your hair to. You'll find a lot of options and you might pick based on who the charity helps. Or just on the amount of hair you have to give. But do your homework and choose wisely, based on why you want to donate.

Hair Donation: Step Two
Grow your hair to the required length. This means taking care of your hair and yourself so it's as healthy as possible. Remember, hair only grows about half an inch a month, so this is quite a commitment!

Hair Donation: Step Three
Make the cut!! You can do it at home or have your stylist do it for you. Just be sure to follow all the directions given by your chosen charity. If you don't, they might not be able to use it and all your hard work (and heart) will have been for nothing.

Programs Listed On This Site
Pantene Beautiful Lengths
Wigs for Kids
Locks of Love
Children with Hair Loss
Childhood Leukemia Foundation
Matter of Trust

Made the cut May 24! Looking forward to enjoying short hair for the summer!

Do You Really Want to Donate? 

Make sure you're ready before you step up to the scissors!!


Hair is something both personal and emotional for many of us. Which explains why charities that give or discount wigs for children and adults who lose their hair because of cancer and other disease have such appeal. But make sure you're giving up your hair for the right reasons and to the right place to make those reasons valid.

Once you're sure you want to donate your hair, do your homework. Make sure you understand how the hair will be used, who will benefit and the requirements for making a donation. This is a big decision and you don't want to have donor's remorse later. And don't let anyone pressure you into cutting your hair if you change your mind. You'll find many of the organizations will be just as happy with your check as your hair (if not happier!).

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Hair Donation: What's the Buzz? 

Bloggers discuss their experiences

The Minnesotes: CHOPPED!
Some of you probably remember we were trying to raise money for Hannah several months back so I could donate my hair to her. It turned out to be way too expensive, so we gave them the money we had raised to pay bills and do what they ...
Where Can I Donate My Hair To Cancer Patients?
I want to cut my hair to shoulder length and give it to a charity that makes wigs for cancer (or alopecia in general) patients. But the length I want to cut off isn't long enough for Locks of Love's requirements. ...
320/365, November 16; Don't cut your hair before we say goodbye. I ...
1. i still hate that i will never be able to donate my hair. 2. please tell me at least two days before you cut your hair. 3. i am amused that you can only barely reach the end of your hair. 4. please don't fight me. Posted 5 days ago. ...
Powered by Google

Donate Your Hair? 

Thoughts on this lens? Questions? Planning to donate your hair or have you done it in the past? Let's hear from you!

submit
  • Reply
    jill shaifer jill shaifer Nov 13, 2009 @ 6:55 am
    Is there an organization that takes colored hair that is in very good condition?
  • Reply
    RollingLuggage RollingLuggage Nov 9, 2009 @ 4:35 pm
    Wonderful lens & Great information
  • Reply
    Yoerg Bahl Yoerg Bahl Nov 5, 2009 @ 5:33 am
    I so happy to donate my hair once again. I am a Male and just turned 53 and am lucky to have good quality, thick hair with no gray yet. The first two times I donated was to Locks Of Love, Mainly because I had over 12 inches to donate. My last donation was in January of 2007. Yesterday I went to a new salon and stylist and she got 3 braided ponytails over 9 ninches. I am mailing them today to Beautiful Lengths of Pantene. I hope to be able to donate again in another 2 yrs. I feel so happy that I am able to help those who are less fortunate and who have to endure the medical conditions that causes them to loose their hair. I want to encourage everyone to make a donation. God Bless everyone.
  • Reply
    Robin Androlake Robin Androlake Nov 4, 2009 @ 7:23 am
    Question

    i have a dear friend who may loose her hair due to chem

    i have very long beautiful hair

    when time could i cover her head with my hair~giving to her
  • Reply
    SusanVillasLewis SusanVillasLewis Nov 2, 2009 @ 7:36 am | in reply to jgelien
    I got a letter from Pantene saying thank you. I know Locks of Love at least used to do that. But they've gotten overwhelmed in recent years and may have stopped that practice.
  • Load More
Show All

All My Lenses 

Like this lens? Want to see what else I've done? Here's my lensography!
featured lens SusanVillasLewis

Well, probably for my mom and my husband. But I guess the rest of you won't love me just for existing. So here's more about me, links to my various lenses, thoughts on future lenses and just the general randomness that is Susan. This will forever be...

by SusanVillasLewis

Basic gal from the Dallas area who has a lot to say!! I'm working on lens related to my odd-ball interests.

Saying even more over on my blog, The Lif...

(more)

Explore related pages

Locks of Love
Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that claims to provide hairpieces to...
Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas on the premise that "no child s...
Breast Cancer Awareness Shirts
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and now you can support the ones you lo...
Matter of Trust
Matter of Trust creates ecological programs that focus on dealing with manmade a...
Child's Play Charity
Gamers around the world have banded together to bring a little joy to children i...
Soles United: Recycle Your Used Crocs
My baby blue Crocs has been through it all in the two years since I bought them....

Related Topics

SusanVillasLewis Recommends...

Create a Lens!