When my daughter recently decided to cut her very long hair, it just made sense to talk to her about donating the hair she was cutting off. She was instantly energized by the idea of helping someone that needed the hair she was getting rid of! It seemed like a win/win. But when I started to do some research on the most well known donation agency – locks of Love, I decided that probably wasn’t the best use of her hair donation.
Which left me wondering – what other hair donation options are there? Fortunately – there are quite a few!
Here’s a Chart:
It turns out – there are quite a few different options for donating your hair, and even your pets hair for good causes!
Below you will find some Locks of Love alternatives:
Wigs for Kids – Wigs for Kids, is a nonprofit organization that has been serving children suffering from hair loss since 1981. Wigs for Kids depends on monetary and hair donations from generous individuals. Wigs for Kids never charges the families that receive the custom Hair Replacement Systems. They make wigs that kids can wear playing sports and being active kids – that dont fall off! They also offer a Girl Scout badge donation opportunity.
Pantene Beautiful Lengths –Beautiful Lengths is a partnership between Pantene® and the American Cancer Society®, the largest nonprofit health organization committed to saving lives from every cancer. The fund turns donated hair into free, real-hair wigs for women with cancer. So far, Pantene has donated 24,000 free real-hair wigs to the American Cancer Society’s wig banks, which distributes wigs to cancer patients across the country.
Wigs 4 Kids- This Wellness Center and Salon is dedicated to helping build the self-esteem of young patients dealing with hair loss as a result from various illnesses such as cancer, alopecia, trichotillomania, as well as burn victims. They provide free hair replacement systems and support services for clients under age 18, throughout the state of Michigan.
Children with hair Loss- Children With Hair Loss was created as a resource for all children who have medically-related hair loss. They are committed to never charging families, and providing their wigs free of charge to children under age 21.
Matter of Trust: Clean Wave- Hair floats, right? That is why it goes down your shower drain last, and can sometimes block your drains. The Matter of Trust creates hair mats, that are non-toxic to the environment unlike petroleum based mats and booms. Oil companies drill oil and use oil to make oil based products that clean up oil spills. The Clean Wave program offers an efficient, eco-alternative to that cycle! Pretty cool. They also accept pet hair. Check their site for more details!
Bottom Line:
You will always want to do your own research on the charities you donate to. And it’s important that you think about what your goal is when you donate. Do you care if your donation is sold instead of given to someone free of charge? Do you mind if it goes to an adult or a child? Does your hair length and type qualify for the donation center your considering? All these questions are worth asking yourself, if you dont want your donation to end up in the trash.
PS. All of the charities above accept monetary donations as well as hair – so if they tug at your heart strings please consider donating in that way as well!
If you’d like more information on our reasons not to donate to locks of love, check the hyperlink above to be linked to that article.
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About Shannon SchmidShannon traded in her sensible NYC TV producer shoes (they were best for taking the subway), for a pair of Texas Cowboy boots when she married her best friend! He's at fault for making this Yankee a Texan! Shannon writes about all things that make a house a home. Her chief blogging inspiration is being the proud & slightly neurotic mom of a preschool age daughter.
You can find Shannon on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and her new favorite place to hang out, Google+.
What great information! Charlotte just donated her hair but not im not sure where the salon took it. 🙂
Thanks for the info on these organizations — and her hair looks so cute with the new cut! ☺️
Here in the near future I plan to cut my hair pretty short. right now it is to my waist, but it has been colored (ammonia free). Would love to know your recommendations as to what organization would be willing to take color treated hair.
I am 56 years old, i have a 13 in. braid,that has gray in it ,but never been colored. What would be my best charity to give to?
I am 56 years old, and, I would like to donate my hair to someone who really would use it ! If anybody is interested in it, it is around 12 to 14 inches long and has a lot of natural gray in it!
Hi! I have a 6 (almost 7 yr old) daughter who’s only ever had one hair trim in her life. Her hair is very soft and we put argon oil in it after every shampoo and conditioner, which we happen to use beautiful lengths! Lol her hair goes down to her butt wet and thecommercials for st. Jude’s Hospital just break her heart so as much as she loves her long hair she has thought about it and has decided to donate. which organization would allow her to meet the child that gets her hair and for free? that’s her one thing is she really wants to meet the child and give them a hug! Also she is adamant about it being free to the child. She’s truly an amazing loving soul and I’m fortunate to have her for my daughter! if anyone has any information, please let me know. I’m in Texas as of now, but I will be in Bakersfield, California when we do the donations. If anybody knows a facility in that area, we will be there around June 7th permanently. thank y’all so much for your time. God bless
Hi, just wanted to know if you found a place in Bakersfield California, I’m from there and trying to donate my sons hair. Can’t find a place here, thanks for your time, hopefully I hear from you.
Thank you for the info my daughter is 8 and she is sooo excited that she just cut15inches off and ready to donate it to someone who needs it but now we have a Better understanding where the hair is going to go a free charge is nice.
Hi my name is Pam I have at least 15 inches of hair I’m trying to donate can someone please contact me about what to do. I really want to cut it all off but I’d rather have it go to a good cause.
Pam- the links below are a good place to start!
I have 18″ of Highlighted Hair that I would like to donate, but not where to look that would send it. I haven’t highlighted or colored it in over a year, just so I could donate it. After watching my mom and cousin go though chemo and my cousin not being able to get her beautiful long hair like mine back I decided to grew it out and and donate it, to people that need it like her.
What a beautiful gesture! Good for you!
I donated to locks of love last time, but heard they charge patients for the wigs. I will try Pantene Beautiful Lengths this time. I am a 9 year breast cancer survivor, I have donated my hair twice before, and I know what it is like to not have any hair. I think giving women and children the donated hair wigs is awesome! I will continue to donate about every three years, as long as my hair continues to grow this long. Thanks for your awesome work!
I wanna donate my daughter hair about 24inch long . But I don’t know where here in Rhode Island please any one know where I can go. Thanks you.
I am getting ready to donate my hair too. I want to make sure it goes to use!
Thanks for the blog post Shannon!
Nice to find you! I will look you up on FB.
This is very informative and I really appreciate you taking your time to tell us about other options for donations of hair/money. My husband is about to donate his locks(Rockstar locks)and was curious about his options. His hair has lots of gray in it, all one length and very healthy,clean and strong. Never has had any chemical treatments or dyes. Anyways, thanks again for the info. We will certainly look into this more before deciding his best option. Thanks!!
We just cut 12 inches off my daughters hair. I don’t know which is the best one to pick.
My Mom was just diagnosed with Leukemia and is getting ready to start her chemotherapy and wants to donate her hair. We are in VA & we do not know how and where to donate. Can anyone help with info?
Thanks for the article, it was very helpful! What about “Little Princess Trust”? Do they charge families?
My son has been growing his hair for a little over a year because he wants to donate it. He is almost twelve and has the most beautiful blonde locks! As you may know, he gets a lot of harassment from other kids because of his choice to have long hair, but it has not deterred him from his goal! He is such a kind hearted kid! He was also very excited to know that one of the companies you mentioned is Michigan based! He said, “awesome! My hair can stay in Michigan!” Thank you for sharing this information!
I am trying to find a place o donate 13′ of hair that is natural blond and very soft, but don’t know what place is the best any suggestion.
Hello Good morning, i wantend to know where could My two girls could donate there hair
Pantene no longer takes hair donations.
Just wondering if anyone has ever done a hair donation in combination with a St Baldrick’s head shaving event. It seems to me with the right coordination it would be a perfect match.