Giving The Gift of Confidence: Donating My Hair
Hello! Tova here, and I'm back with a new personal adventure story!
In 2020, I lost 60% of my hair due to a traumatic fall. The hair loss is called telogen effluvium, and it can happen after a serious accident, illness or trauma. The neat part? Your hair grows back in white and for some people, you can even grow in a white patch! The bad news? You lose hair. Sometimes it doesn't grow back. I was scared that would happen to me. At first, the doctor told me it was female pattern balding, and there was nothing I could do but try to grow it back in. Thankfully, it was just the TE. I hated it so much I covered my head. It was embarrassing, I had big patches of hair loss. I prayed often, and I promised God that if I someday grow my thick hair back in, I would grow it to my waist and donate it all. Well, I reached that milestone this past week, and cut it all off! :) I chose Locks of Love as my donation location. I have donated to them before in the past and I love their mission!
Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization in the United States that provides hairpieces to children and young adults experiencing medical hair loss due to conditions such as alopecia, burns, cancer treatments, and other health-related causes. They accept donated hair that is used to create high-quality wigs and other hair prosthetics for kids ages 6-21 regardless of their background, race, religion or gender, and they are NEVER charged a single dime.
If you are looking to donate your hair, here's how you do it:
- Grow your hair to the required length, which for Locks of Love is 10 inches.
- Visit a salon or have your hair cut according to the donation guidelines.
- Place the cut hair (make sure it's in a braid or ponytail!) in a sealed plastic bag.
- Mail your donation to Locks of Love using the address listed on their website.
There are lots of other ways you can help support this cause if you cannot grow out your hair!
💙 Make a financial donation to support the creation and distribution of hair prosthetics.
💙 Volunteer at fundraising events.
💙 Share information about Locks of Love and other donation groups with friends and family.
💙 Organize a hair donation drive in your community.
Your hair could mean the difference in a child's confidence and self-esteem! I highly encourage hair donation, especially if you're a lucky girlie with long thick hair like me. Well, I *did* have long hair...now it's above my shoulders. It makes me so happy that my hair will someday be part of a wig that makes a young person feel better about themselves. :)
Have you ever donated your hair or know someone who has? If not, do you have a favorite charity or nonprofit that you like to work with or donate to? I love to hear stories of sharing strength and hope with others! Share your experience below!
I forgot to post the picture of my braid! It weighs almost 2 lbs! I haven't measured it but I would guess 14 inches?
@TovaCares76
This is very nice.
I donated 24" about 15 years ago to a Canadian outfit run by Pantine (sadly they no longer do this)
@QuietByNature
WOW 24 inches! That's so long! I had a lot that I could have given if I cut my hair into a pixie which is what I originally planned but I couldn't do it yet. :)
I've donated to Pantene a few times. It was good as they had a shortest length requirement. I found them at was the tricky part - having the shortest sections meet the minimum length and still have my hair cut with the style I wanted.
From what I remember Pantene Great Lengths ended as synthetic wigs have improved so demand decreased.
Not sure I would donate now. I have more grays (still well under the threshold most places set out) but also a ton of baby hairs. I lost some hair with eczema and for a few months in on a new medication so I have lots of 'layers' after that healing period of hair that hasn't met up to that long length.
@AffyAvo
I asked about my greys and I was told that even if my greys were considered to be useless to them personally, they still sell it and use the money to offset production costs, so you still help! :) Locks of Love used to be 6 inches. Now it's 10!
@TovaCares76 It’s funny how the are all different. I remember looking years sho and one had 12 inches as a minimum. I never saw anything under 8.
Many want untreated hair (no bleaching, permanent dyes or perms) and some have a maximum gray threshold.
@AffyAvo
I held off on the hair coloring first for this purpose, and then over time because it would have taken like 5 bottles of hair color just to color all of my hair! 🤣
@TovaCares76
You are a beautiful soul 🩷
@Amanda84
awww thank you!! :)
You're the sweetest! <3
@jesusredeemedme2425
Thanks Kiara <3
@TovaCares76
You are amazing, Tova, and I don't say that lightly. Deep respect. Thank you for posting this.
@TovaCares76 Thank you for sharing 💝🥰
@TovaCares76 you are so brave!! I though about donating my hair but I'm so scared to! My hair is my comfort blanket.
Awww you're so sweet for wanting to donate! I was scared too. But it's two gifts in one. Someone gets a lovely hair piece and you get a lovely new hairstyle! I do get it though. It was hard for me too!
Last year, I donated 17 inches of my hair to Little Princess Trust for children with cancer. 🎗️ At first, I thought of donating a little, but then I thought, “Why be a miser when it will grow back?” I still had shoulder-length hair.
Usually, after cutting my hair, I regret it for months wishing it would grow back faster. But this time was different , I felt nothing but happiness and gratitude. I never regretted it for a single day. I felt truly blessed. 🤍✨💙
