I had a friend who always grew her hair out long to donate to cancer patients. I decided to follow in her footsteps and do the same myself. If you’re considering donating your hair, there are many great reasons why you should – plus some important things to keep in mind before making the decision to cut it all off.

This blog post will cover all of the questions you might have about donating your hair and help you figure out if this really is the right thing for you to do. I documented my own hair donation and compiled of all the research I did during the process. Also, see my list of answers to the frequently asked questions for those also planning on donating their hair. At the bottom I also have all the organizations listed who are currently accepting hair donations.

Everything You Need to Know About Donating Your Hair for Cancer Patients — The before picture with long hair on the day I cut it for donating.

The Multiple Ways Hair Donation Helps Cancer Patients

Helping Cancer Patients Take Pride in Their Appearance

The way cancer can affect a person’s looks, including hair loss and changes in skin color, may be incredibly disheartening. Oftentimes, those who are fighting cancer can feel self-conscious and uncomfortable with their new appearance. Fortunately, some organizations, such as Locks of Love or Wigs for Kids, exist to provide high-quality wigs for men, women and children suffering from any form of hair loss due to an illness.

The Human Connection with Human Hair

Not only does real human hair make much better quality wigs, it also lets the recipient know that someone was thinking of them and their struggle with cancer. Just knowing that another person took the time and effort to submit their hair shows a small human kindness.

Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions for Hair Donation for Cancer Patients

How long does your hair donation have to be?

The amount of hair needed varies depending on where you donate. Generally, at least eight inches of hair must be donated in order to make a wig or hairpiece.

The only exception is the Matter of Trust Clean Wave Program which makes hair mats for oil spills. They will accept up to 3 inches of hair strands for donations but this is not related to cancer patients, rather helping the environment.

Do you need to donate hair in a ponytail or braid or can it be loose?

Ponytails and braids are better because they maintain a continuous grouping of hair without tangling. If you donate your hair in a ponytail or braid, make sure that it’s as close to your scalp as possible without pulling on your skin. This will help ensure that there is no breakage when your hair is cut off. But also keep in mind what type of short hairstyle you’ll be sporting after your donation.

Can you donate hair that has been colored, Highlighted or bleached?

The answer to this question varies by the donation organization. Obviously natural and untreated or uncolored hair is the preferred option for everyone. Some organizations will accept colored hair but most will not accept bleached or highlighted hair. If your hair is dyed, it must in a natural shade (sorry neon pink hair cannot be donated). Do your research ahead of time and select the organization that will accept your hair in the current state that it is in.

Can you donate curly hair?

Yes, you can donate your curly hair. The Locks of Love website states that it accepts all types of hair including curly, straight, wavy, or kinky as long as it’s at least 10 inches long and tied in a ponytail.

Can you donate hair that has split ends?

If you read through a variety of hair organizations’ websites, there’s mixed information about accepting hair donations with split ends. Some say they will accept split ends while others say that they don’t. I believe best practice is to trim off all your unhealthy and split ends first, and then see how many inches you have left to donate.

Can you donate gray hair?

The issue with gray hair is that it can be tougher to dye, making it a bit more challenging to be incorporated into wigs. Some organizations will accept gray hair, some will accept a small percentage of gray hair, while others do not accept any gray hair at all. Do your research ahead of time if you have gray hair to donate.

How do they use my hair to make it into a wig?

It all starts with a haircut. Once your hair is cut and in ponytail form, you will ship it off to the organization of your choosing. It is then inspected by a specialist in order to ensure it meets their standards. The hair will then be washed, conditioned, dried and trimmed if necessary. It is then cut into small pieces (depending on how many extensions are needed), knotted into place and attached strand by strand onto existing wig caps made of lace or silk material. This process can take anywhere from one week to two months depending on length and volume of hair donated.

Will I know or can I choose who ends up receiving the wig from my hair?

No, due to time and logistics, you cannot specify who receives your hair donation. It is a very intricate process that requires each person’s hair to be sent to a specific company. This way they can guarantee that every single strand of hair will be used in wigs or other products. It can also take up to 6 full ponytail donations to make a single wig. So it’s a group effort just to make one wig.

What do I need to tell my hairstylist before they cut my hair to donate?

Firstly, before you even go into the salon you should have an idea on what short hairstyle you want after your hair is cut. This way you can give the hairstylist an idea on the length you need remaining on your head.

Have your hairdresser put your long hair into a tight and secure ponytail. It is recommended to put hair ties at both ends of the ponytail to avoid tangling. Or you can do a braid with two hair ties too. Be aware that the hair-ties used will be sent along with the donation so don’t give away favorite ones! A clean and sharp cut should be used to cut off the ponytail.

After your ponytail has been cut off, promptly put it into a clean ziplock bag and seal. You want to avoid any tangling. Make sure the hair is completely dry - do not send in damp hair because it can mold!

How do I ship my hair?

First take a ruler and measure your ponytail length to ensure it meets the criteria of the organization to which you are sending it to. Then take your ponytail inside the ziplock bag and package it inside a clean shipping envelope.

Each organization will provide shipping instructions and address on their website. Make sure you pay for enough postage and include any requested forms from the organization.

Will I get paid any money for donating my hair?

No, you should not be expecting any compensation for donating your hair to cancer patients. The point is to reduce the cost of wig production so organizations can either give the wigs for free or at a reduced cost to cancer patients. Natural human hair wigs are very expensive and can cost in the thousands. Most health insurance companies don’t cover the cost of wigs for patients.

Can I donate hair for alopecia areata patients?

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss on parts of your body including your scalp. Hair We Share is an organization that helps both cancer patients and those suffering from alopecia hair loss to obtain natural hair wigs. Also Locks of Love makes wigs for children suffering from alopecia.

Can I use my own hair to make a wig for myself, a friend or family member?

If someone knows they will be beginning chemotherapy and therefore loosing their hair in the future, you can have a custom wig made with your own hair. You can also use your own hair to make a custom wig for a friend or family member experiencing hair loss from a medical condition.

The Newport Hair Loss Centers in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego have a service to make custom wigs for both cancer and alopecia patients. Keep in mind that it takes several hair donations to make a wig so you still may need to purchase additional natural hair to complete the wig.

Can I donate Afro ethnic hair?

I did a lot of reading on this subject and some organizations aren’t currently accepting ethnic afro hair donations because they don’t have partnerships with wig makers who know how to use the kinky style hair to make wigs. Fortunately this seems to be changing as there’s a big push for diversity and accessibility for all. Do research and outreach ahead of time to see who can accept afro style hair donations. No matter what kind of ethnic hair you have, it will help someone else with their struggle.

I will say that almost all organizations cannot accept dreadlocks.

USA Based Hair Donation Organizations

When it comes to selecting the organization to which you’ll be donating your hair, there’s plenty of options here in the United States. They all have slightly different criteria for hair donations including length of hair, treated hair and gray hair. Make sure to do some research before you send in your hair donation to make sure it will be accepted and actually used to make a wig.

Locks of Love

Locks of Love is the most known hair donation association in the US. They are a nonprofit and make wigs for children. The recipients of wigs suffer from conditions and treatments such as alopecia areata, radiation therapy and chemotherapy and severe burns or trauma.

This is the organization where I sent in my own hair donation. I received a confirmation thank you letter and certificate in return.

I have heard criticism of Locks of Love for selling hair donations. It is my understanding that they do sell unusable hair for wigs to offset the price of wig production. This is understandable to me because the cost of making hand-sewn natural wigs is very expensive.

Chai Lifeline

Chai Lifeline makes natural wigs for children undergoing cancer treatment. They need 14 inch long hair donations and they can be mailed to: Chai Lifeline, Attention: Hair Donations, 151 West 30th Street, Floor 7, New York, NY 10001.

Wigs for Kids

Wigs for Kids is a longstanding non-profit hair donation organization that has been helping children suffering from hair loss. They are looking for a minimum 12 inch long donation of hair but prefer 14 inches long and over. Send your hair donation to: Wigs For Kids Hair Donations, 24231 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, Ohio 44145.

Hair We Share

Hair We Share gives wigs free of charge to children and adults who suffer from hair loss because of medical conditions. They require a minimum of 12 inch long hair donations (unless you pair it with a cash donation in which case you can donate 8 inch long hair donations). They have a program where if you donate cash along with your hair, then you’ll actually get to see the wig made from your hair and possibly the recipient of the wig.

A Child’s Voice Foundation / Angel Hair For Kids

Angel Hair Kids is a Canadian organization that provides hair prosthesis for children who’ve lost their hair due to medical conditions or treatment. They require a minimum of 12 inch long hair donations. They also request you fill out a form to accompany your donation.