LOCKS OF LOVE ~ A donation of hair for a needy child

bademasi

Hello everyone!

Sunday I went to get my long hair cut very short. With my new lifestyle of healthy foods and exercise I wanted a change. I had the girl at the salon put my hair into a ponytail and cut it off. My ponytail is 11-1/2" long. I got a cute "messy pixy haircut" I have naturally curly hair so I can wear it straightened or curly. So easy for the gym and all the activities I am now doing.

The beautician was not educated properly on LOCKS OF LOVE donations. I was shocked that she knew less than I did. So I am posting this so that others know the correct information.

GUIDELINES FOR ACCEPTABLE DONATIONS

Hair that is colored or permed is acceptable.

Hair cut years ago is usable if it has been stored in a ponytail or braid.

Hair that has been bleached (usually this refers to highlighted hair) is not usable. If unsure, ask your stylist. We are not able to accept bleached hair due to a chemical reaction that occurs during the manufacturing process. **If the hair was bleached years ago and has completely grown out it is fine to donate.

Hair that is swept off of the floor is not usable because it is not bundled in a ponytail or braid.

Hair that is shaved off and not in a ponytail or braid is not usable. If shaving your head, first divide hair into multiple ponytails to cut off.

We cannot accept dreadlocks. Our manufacturer is not able to use them in our children’s hairpieces. We also cannot accept wigs, falls, hair extensions or synthetic hair.

Layered hair is acceptable if the longest layer is 10 inches.

Layered hair may be divided into multiple ponytails.

Curly hair may be pulled straight to measure the minimum 10 inches.

10 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length needed for a hairpiece.


My ponytail was mailed this morning. It is a wonderful act of love..... I hope more people consider doing this for children in need. Hair is needed from men and women, young and old, all colors and races.

bademasi

Just for the record. I am only bringing awareness to hair donations. I am in no way connected to any organization. :flowerforyou:

jojopel

What a beautiful gesture. My daughter donated her hair last year and she is now letting it grow out to be able to donate it again.

cryblank

Just a little FYI, if hair is not 10 inches, they will accept it under the above guide lines and re sale it to offset their costs. Of course they do prefer it 10 + inches, but it all helps!

Krushchev

As a sidenote, while donating your hair is awesome, Locks of Love only uses something like 10% of the hair donated & even that is for alopecia patients, not the more commopnly thought of cancer patients.

bademasi

As a sidenote, while donating your hair is awesome, Locks of Love only uses something like 10% of the hair donated & even that is for alopecia patients, not the more commopnly thought of cancer patients.

Yes it is used mostly for children of alopecia. Any child in need for hair to improve the day to day life is a good cause to me. I am not aware of a percentage used.... but I will take another look.

bademasi

Ninety percent of the children who apply for wigs through Locks of Love have a disease called alopecia areata. Others have trichotillomania, a disorder that leads them to pull out their hair compulsively. Some have suffered burns or trauma, even dog bites. Others have been in car accidents and lost their scalps. Only 3 percent are bald because of cancer, and they usually have had radiation treatment to the brain stem or are on chemotherapy indefinitely. But most cancer patients are not eligible for Locks of Love wigs because their hair will grow back when their chemotherapy ends.

bademasi

But although charities have been highly effective at stirring the passions of donors, they have been less successful at finding a use for the mountains of hair sent to them as a result. As much as 80 percent of the hair donated to Locks of Love, the best known of the charities, is unusable for its wigs, the group says. Many people are unaware of the hair donation guidelines and send in hair that is gray, wet or moldy, too short, or too processed, some of which is immediately thrown away. Even hair that survives the winnowing may not go to the gravely ill, but may be sold to help pay for charities’ organizational costs.

bademasi

As a sidenote, while donating your hair is awesome, Locks of Love only uses something like 10% of the hair donated & even that is for alopecia patients, not the more commopnly thought of cancer patients.

Yes it is used mostly for children of alopecia. Any child in need for hair to improve the day to day life is a good cause to me. I am not aware of a percentage used.... but I will take another look.

I am stunned to learn what I have. Thank you for pointing out that only a percentage is used. I had no idea. I was not pressured to donate my hair... I just did it out of love.