Considering A Chop? Save Those Strands For A Good Cause!
When stepping out or signing on to meet the world, what’s always one step ahead? Our hair! So much of who we are is inextricably woven into the strands that frame our faces. Hair can reflect what we do for a living, what music we like, if we’re more eclectic and artsy or straight-to-business — even how often we shower.
Our locks are also a valuable litmus for sussing out health concerns. Thinning, graying, dandruff, and dryness are all signs from the body to time out for some TLC. In severe cases, such as traumatic stress, autoimmune conditions, radiation, and cancer treatment, hair may be lost altogether. This drastic shift in appearance can leave these individuals feeling like they've lost their health and their personality in one fell swoop.
Thankfully, there are many charitable organizations out there to lend a helping hairdo to those in need. Groups like Wigs for Kids, Hair We Share, Locks of Love, Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids, and Chai Lifeline recognize the importance of seeing a healthy, shiny head of hair in the mirror — especially during recovery from an illness when keeping spirits high matters most. They accept hair donations from the lustrously gifted and spin them into pieces to keep smiles strong.
Donating hair is one of the easiest, most beautiful ways to spread loving energy because it's such a positive experience for all parties involved. Number one, if you opt for a salon, you get the luxurious treat of someone washing and styling your hair for you. Number two, you get a fresh look. Coco Chanel once said, “A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life,” so go for it! Number three, someone, somewhere gets a piece of normalcy back in their lives so they can feel less like a patient and more like themselves.
If you’ve got a surplus of tresses on your hands (or head), consider snipping and sending it off to one of these organizations to make a difference:
With a 40-year history of helping kids grow up happily in spite of physical setbacks, Wigs for Kids takes hair from their network of stylists and individual mail-in submissions and weaves them into gifts of self-esteem.
Minimum length accepted: 14 inches
Snip it, seal it, ship it. That's all it takes. Clean, dry hair mailed to Chai Lifeline supports an international network of individuals in need, with an emphasis on providing hair for children. This wonderful organization also offers nourishing meals and social support to the hospitals and homes of families in crisis.
Minimum length accepted: 14 inches
One of the few organizations accepting gray hair donations, Hair We Share gifts custom wigs to patients of all ages. Ask your local hairdresser about starting a salon partnership.
Minimum length accepted: 12 inches
Probably the most well known organization that collects hair donations, and for good reason. This non-profit organization has been providing free wigs and hair pieces to financially disadvantaged children for nearly 25 years. Colored and permed hair welcome!
Minimum length accepted: 10 inches
“Every strand counts” at Maggie's, a Michigan-based nonprofit. They only provide hair pieces for children in their home state, where wigs are not covered by insurance, but they accept donations from anywhere. Visit their website for some fascinating stats and details on how to host your own cut-a-thon.
Minimum length accepted: 7 inches
GUIDELINES
Before you break out the scissors, go online and check your charity’s requirements. Many of them have specific regulations on the kind of hair they accept and want you to fill out a donation form to include in your delivery. These are some basics to keep in mind:
- Hair must be clean, dry, and ideally sectioned into 3-4 ponytails as opposed to one thick one. Aim to snip one inch above the band.
- Layered hair should be sectioned off into separate ponytails of uniform length. (ie: shorter sections separate from longer sections)
- Hair must be of a natural color (no pinks, blues, or fire engine reds).
- Place your clipped locks into a clean zip lock bag and seal completely before mailing to the charity of your choice.
Making the world a better place is just a ponytail away. These are just some of the great places out there that accept hair donations. Many salons have affiliations with organizations accepting hair, so ask your go-to stylist if they’ve already got one set up. If you’re short on strands yourself, don’t fret! Manufacturing wigs isn't cheap. All organizations gladly accept financial gifts as well, so you can still contribute!
Tag us @mollymymag on Instagram if you donate your locks! We’d love to see your new 'do.
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