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!).

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Hair Donation: What's the Buzz? 

Bloggers discuss their experiences

Stories from the Past
My decision to donate my hair came about when my mother told me that my hair was getting long. It is down to my elbows, the longest it's ever been. I decide that I just want to snip it all off and give short hair a try. ...
Of course I'm at work... TGIF
I want to donate my hair to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths charity goup that the American Cancer Society works with now but 8 inches is still a lot of hair and I have a strong feeling I'm going to chicken out... but I'm going with an ...
101 Things in 1001 Days: #67 {Grow out my hair and donate to Locks ...
I am growing out my hair for the full 1001 days of this challenge, and at the end of it will donate my hair to Locks of Love. Here is a pic of what my hair looks like now...I have awhile to go until it's long enough to donate! ...
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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!

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  • 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.
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