Hair donations for children with cancer

[wildequusheart]

I donated my hair once. For most charities the requirement is now 10 inches if it is to be made into a wig. I went with locks of love, but there are a few out there if you google it. Some salons do donation days, or you can cut it and mail it yourself. I cut it myself, partly because I couldn't handle the thought of someone chopping that much of my hair off. Then I had to go get it fixed since it was ridiculously crooked, which gave the woman who fixed it a good laugh.

For everyone with shorter hair who want to donate, believe it or not, there's a charity for that too! Or at least there was when I donated my hair (it's been a while). I ran across a charity that takes hair from trims (mostly clippings from salon floors - from a couple inches to less than an inch) and uses it to make mats. Apparently hair is very absorbent, and they use the mats to soak up spilled oil on the beaches.

Maybe one of these days I'll donate again if I can keep my cat from playing with my hair and giving me split ends. 

[jonhall37]

i grew up with a friend who would have her hair cut every year and donate it. its a great idea

[melissaotto1982]

I was going to do it and then I found out your hair has to be chemical free and i had highlights in my hair.  I think its an awesome way to help out others!!!

[tea4me]

I've done it a few times at Great Clips.  My hair is long and straight and I get it cut when I can deal with the shorter hair.  My husband had cancer, so I have no problems donating my hair to Locks of Love.

[yaayme]

Have you donated your hair for children with cancer?  My hair has always been long, to my waist, and although my family doesn't want me to cut it, I am seriously thinking about cutting 10" off to donate to children with cancer.  Has anyone out there done this or thinking about it?  Please let me know.  Thank you

No, I've never cut my hair for charity, but I think it's a great idea. I think you should do it, besides it's for a great cause and you're a grown woman, right? Do what you want.

[africanclaudie]

I tried to donate my hair, but it was too "old". I have kept my long hair each time I cut it short, but (what I didn't realize) the hair has to be newly cut otherwise it dries out too much and they cannot use it. 

[handllucas]

I have heard that there have been too many donations and are not accepting any.
I would check before you cut!

[demaina]

Yeah, I've done it the past 3 years.  The first time I did it I actually donated about 25 inches.  Now though I let it grow for about a year and the get it chopped off and donated. 

If you've never done anything like this before, realize that your hair will spring up a bit shorter than expected, so if you have them cut it to shoulder length, it may end up more like chin length due to there not being as much weight on it.

[tashamjoy]

I honestly would love too but my hair does not grow fast ive tried to take care of my hair no split ends trimming every few weeks trying to grow out and keep healthy i am hoping one day it will be long enough

[march1971]

Have you donated your hair for children with cancer?  My hair has always been long, to my waist, and although my family doesn't want me to cut it, I am seriously thinking about cutting 10" off to donate to children with cancer.  Has anyone out there done this or thinking about it?  Please let me know.  Thank you

I wonder if guys can do it. next time I get a haircut, I will ask the barber where to turn it in to be donated to locks of love. I used to grow my hair to my shoulders, but now that I am a born-again Christian, I don't grow it past my neck, and I have it shaved off when it starts feeling uncomfortable.

[annettefayeroach]

I would love to that. I lost my dear sweet mother to breast cancer.  I can't let my hair grow to long though. I get real bad migraines and my hair is real thick  so it is to much pressure on my neck and head so the doctor has told me. But I would do it if I could.

[kevint5]

I've never done it but I think its fantastic though!  I can't get my hair long enough to do it either!

[tin8604]

I donated my hair to locks of love a few years back.  They cut off 12".  I was really happy to do it because it was something that I always wanted to do.  I was really sad after it was gone but I kept telling myself that someone else needed it more than I did.  Plus the girl who cut my hair, her mom had gotten a wig from locks of love when she had cancer so it was nice.