COVERING YOUNG HEADS TO HEAL YOUNG HEARTS: MY SIXTH HAIR DONATION

*Updated to include date of eighth hair donation.

Well, I did it! Again! My sixth hair donation is in the mail and ready to be processed. Eventually it will be made into a hair replacement for a young individual.

On Thursday, September 19th, I cut 16 inches of my hair to send to the non-profit organization, Children With Hair Loss. Their mission is to cover young heads to heal young hearts, and I am so blessed to be able to grow long and healthy hair to contribute to it.

To me, donating my hair is more than helping a child or individual change their appearance; it’s an opportunity to boost their self-esteem and provide them with a new sense of normalcy and validation that someone beyond their family and friends care.

My hair has been long all my life. I made my first donation when I was in 7th grade to Locks of Love and continued growing my hair to donate ever since. Besides the occasional 1-2 inch trim, I’ve never cut my hair other than to make a 10+ inch donation.

This time around, I donated to Children With Hair Loss (CWHL). CWHL provides their recipients with a new human hair replacement every year until they turn 21, free of charge. Recipients apply to be considered and have medically-related hair loss due to cancer treatments, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns, etc. CWHL customizes each hair replacement based on length, color, texture, and quality of hair. The organization also provides recipients with a care kit to maintain their hairpiece, which together can cost up to $5,000.

One ponytail cannot create a full hairpiece. Locks of Love estimates it take 10 to 12 ponytails (150,000 strands of hair) to make one. And with that, I am setting a goal for myself to make 4 to 6 more donations.

My Hair Donations

April 18, 2006 ….. Locks of Love
August 24, 2009 ….. Locks of Love
December 1, 2011 ….. Locks of Love
July 17, 2014 ….. Locks of Love
August 27, 2015 ….. Locks of Love
September 19, 2019 ….. Children With Hair Loss
June 22, 2022 ….. Children With Hair Loss
May 11, 2024 ….. Children With Hair Loss

Making a hair donation is easy, but each organization has its own specific requirements such as length, packaging, etc. Some do not accept colored or gray hair, so it’s important to read everything before making the cut. For example, CWHL requires at least 8 inches of dry healthy hair secured in a ponytail or braid and mailed along with their donation form in a ziplock bag.

If you’d like to make a donation without cutting your hair, CWHL also accepts monetary donations that will go towards the processing fees of making each hair replacement as well as your time volunteering at their office.