Whenever I get a haircut I always think about donating that cut hair to a good cause-- It seems like such a waste to see all that hair piled-up on the salon floor. Unfortunately, my hair has never been long enough... Until today! Today, I had 10 inches of hair cut off and I was finally able to make a donation!
My hair will be sent to
Locks of Love to benefit financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss. Many of the recipients suffer from alopecia, while others have been victim to severe burns, cancer, or other medical conditions. As we all may recall from our own childhoods, sometimes kids can be mean to those who are perceived as "different". While not a cure, these custom-made prosthetics provided by Locks of Love help set the foundation so that self-esteem can be restored and many of these kids are able to return to their normal childhood activities.
If you are interested in donating to Locks of Love, here are some guidelines which I pulled from their site--
- 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.
From my own experience, here are a few tips--
Have your hairstylist (or the person cutting your hair), divide the hair into multiple ponytails before cutting. If you do one large ponytail in the back, the cut will be uneven and you'll probably end up cutting off more than you want in the front.
Bring a ziplock bag and have your hairstylist dry the bundled locks.
Take it to the post office to mail. My "heavy" hair took 3 stamps!
And you're probably wondering what my new hairdo looks like...
