When my young daughter, Hayley, recently told me that she wanted to donate her hair to charity to help sick children, my heart instantly melted. I couldn’t believe how brave it was of her to make such a big decision at a young age, especially given the fact that she’s known for her signature long brown locks.
As it turns out, there are several organizations that accept and use all hair donations, each with different philosophies, and requirements for growing your hair and prepping it for donation. Here are the few to consider for the big cut.
Children With Hair Loss
- Length requirements: 10 inches or longer
Children With Hair Loss is a nonprofit that provides human hair replacements at no cost to children and adults facing medically-related hair loss. Search for salon partners in your neighborhood. Donations are also accepted by mail; send this completed form along with your hair donation directly to the organization. Within 10 weeks, your child will receive a certificate of donation.
Crowns of Courage
- Length requirements: 9 inches or longer
Crowns of Courage provides halo wigs to children experiencing chemotherapy-related hair loss at no cost to the family. Unlike traditional wigs, halo wigs are attached to a soft, breathable cap, allowing for more comfort. Donations are accepted by mail. Send your donation along with this form to Crowns of Courage.
Hair We Share
- Length requirements: 8 inches or longer
Hair We Share provides customized, human hair wigs to children and teens suffering from cancer, Alopecia, other medical causes of hair loss and accident, burn or head trauma victims. Hair We Share provides these wigs free of charge to anyone whose financial means doesn’t allow them to purchase one.
Hair Donations are accepted by mail only. In addition to the hair donation, Hair We Share requires a monetary donation of $145, which goes towards their unique Ponytail Tracking Program. This program allows donors to receive communication and photos (when possible) from the wig recipient.
Matter of Trust
- Length requirements: 3 inches or longer
While Matter of Trust does not support children who have experienced hair loss, they do accept hair donations for a good cause — its Clean Wave Program. The nonprofit environmental organization uses hair clippings to soak up major oil spills and help keep storm drains and waterways clean. Donations are accepted by mail as the need arises. Visit the Matter of Trust website for more information.
Wigs For Kids
- Length requirements: 12 inches of longer
Wigs For Kids provides Hair Replacement Systems and support for children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns and other medical issues at no cost to families.
Call ahead at a KidSnips location near you and make an appointment on a weekday. They will cut your child’s hair, send in the donation and restyle their hair for free. KidSnips will also give each donor a Wigs For Kids certificate to commemorate the occasion. Wigs For Kids also accepts hair donations by mail.
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