Getting a haircut soon? If your hair is long enough and fits certain criteria, you should really consider donating it. Be sure to let your stylist know that you want to donate your hair before they start cutting as many hair donation facilities require a certain length of hair in order to accept your donation. Most organizations require hair to be washed and dried, placed in a ponytail and then cut, but each can have their own variations [including texture, color, etc.] so be sure to check with your intended charity before actually cutting. I am supplying everything that I can find that is current today as far as requirements, but this information could always change. So, be sure to do your research before your hair appointment. All places to donate your hair listed are United States based unless otherwise noted.
Recently I cut my hair off to donate [see above] and you can too [see below]. 🙂
15 Places To Donate Your Hair
Angel Hair For Kids [Canada]
Angel Hair For Kids is a special program that provides wigs and hair loss solutions to financially disadvantaged kids in Canada who have lost their hair due to a medical condition or treatment. Hair that is slightly colored or grey is acceptable. Perms or bleached hair is not. Dreadlocks, wigs, falls, hair extensions or synthetic hair is not acceptable.
Minimum length required: 12 inches.
Chai Lifeline
Cancer treatments and medical conditions can leave children bald on the outside and feeling naked on the inside. The gift of a wig can help them meet the challenges of their changing body by enhancing self-esteem and alleviating the feelings of “differentness” that can accompany illness and treatment. Chai Lifeline accepts contributions of children´s and adult´s hair for inclusion in wigs.
Minimum length requirement: 14 inches
Children With Hair Loss
Children With Hair Loss provides human hair replacements at no cost to children and young adults facing medically-related hair loss. When a child’s hair is lost due to Cancer treatments, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, Burns, etc., the painful effects are far deeper than just cosmetic. Each year, the number of children requesting their hair replacements increases and with support, they hope to continue to increase the number of children they are able to help in the future! They accept layered, color-treated, gray and highlighted hair.
Minimum length required: 8 inches
Crowns Of Courage
Crowns of Courage provides halo wigs to children undergoing chemotherapy, at absolutely no cost to the family. They accept healthy, color treated hair. No gray hair, please.
Minimum length required: 10 inches
Green Circle Salons [Canada]
Green Circle Salons use hair to create products like bio-composite plastic recycling bins, stormwater filters and insulation, or hair booms that help with oil spill clean ups in oceans, lakes and rivers. No hair goes to waste. They accept discarded hair directly from salons, so talk to your favorite stylist about joining this movement.
Minimum length required: any
Hair Donation Ottawa [Canada]
Hair Donation Ottawa has evolved into a year-round fundraiser where you can make a difference in the lives of children and youth in the community living with cancer. Donate your hair or beard trimmings and raise funds for ground-breaking cancer research at CHEO, empower kids and youth going through cancer treatment and support environmental sustainability initiatives!Â
Minimum length required: 5 inches [hair that is shorter, bleached or permed is redirected to partner Green Circle Salons (see above)].
Hair We Share
Hair We Share uses your locks to make  beautiful custom wigs and gives them free of charge to kids and adults. When you join the ponytail tracking program, they show you the wig made from your hair. They accept hair that has been dyed [natural colors only] without the use of bleach, hair that has been permed or straightened [after damaged ends are trimmed off] and gray hair. They do not accept hair that has been bleached or lightened or that is not a natural color.
Minimum length required: 12 inches [***If you join their ponytail tracking program you can donate as few as 8 inches. It costs $150 and they will send you a photo of the wig made from your hair and a Hair We Share “I Made the Cut” t-shirt.]
Little Princess Trust [UK]
The Little Princess Trust provides free real hair wigs to children and young people, up to 24 years, who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions. They accept hair in great condition, with no split ends, and any natural color. They do not accept hair that is dyed an unnatural color, extensions, dreadlocks or completely gray hair.
Minimum length required: 7 inches [they highly encourage at least 12 inches and their greatest need is 16 inches or longer]
Locks Of Love
Locks Of Love recipients are financially disadvantaged children, age 21 and under, suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Most of their children suffer from an autoimmune disorder called Alopecia Areata, which causes the hair follicles to shut down. In addition to the loss of scalp hair, many also lose their eyelashes, eyebrows and all body hair. This hair loss is permanent in most cases, and there is no known cause or cure. Other recipients are cancer survivors, have been victim to severe burns or suffer from any number of dermatological conditions that cause permanent hair loss. Locks Of Love does not accept bleached hair but does accept colored hair [without the use of bleach].
Minimum length required: 10 inches
Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids Of Michigan
Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan helps children who struggle to deal with social acceptance caused by changes in their physical appearance. They provide services at no charge to the children and their families. Layered hair is acceptable but hair must not be colored or chemically treated within the last 2 years. Hair should not be more than 10% gray.
Minimum length required: 7 inches [preferably 10 inches]
Matter Of Trust
Using clippings of hair from salons, fur from pet groomers, fleece and feathers from farmers, even laundry lint, Matter Of Trust produces felted recycled fiber mats. These go to public works departments for use in storm drains. They also coordinate with emergency clean water efforts to supply products that can “sandbag” and protect coves and beaches. This program provides green jobs, as well as volunteer opportunities which are safe, non-hazardous, hands-on and empowering during major oil spills.
Minimum length required: 3 inches
Pink Heart Funds
Pink Heart Funds provides beautiful, free human hair wigs for any woman in the US undergoing hair loss from chemotherapy or radiation.
Minimum length required: 14 inches
Sustainable Salons [AU/NZ]
Sustainable Salons is the largest charitable collector of ponytails in the world. All those valuable locks go to charitable organizations and wigmakers to change the lives for those suffering from medically-induced hair loss. They do accept chemically processed and colored hair. And they do accept 100% human hair extensions, that are originally verified and labeled by the product supplier.
Minimum length required: Approximately 8 inches
Wigs & Wishes
Wigs & Wishes® By Martino Cartier is dedicated to providing wigs & granting wishes to courageous individuals battling cancer. Supporting such a large initiative is made possible by a network of participating salons, stylists, and global corporate sponsorships. Salons and stylists throughout the world empower women by providing them with complimentary services that allow them for a brief moment to forget about their fight. Wishes are granted to children with cancer to brighten their day and bring smile to their faces while fighting life’s toughest battle. Layered hair is acceptable as long as the shortest layer is at least 12” long. Hair that has been lightened (bleached) is not acceptable. Hair that has been colored, permed or chemically processed is also not acceptable.
Minimum length required: 12 inches
Wigs For Kids
Wigs For Kids is a nonprofit organization that helps children suffering from hair loss stemming from chemotherapy, radiation therapy, Alopecia, Trichotillomania, burns, and other medical causes. Stylists and regular people just like you work together to give recipients the self-esteem and self-image they deserve. My daughter [a licensed Cosmetologist] has used this organization for her donations.
Minimum length requirement: 12 inches [but 14 inches is preferable]
Have You Ever Donated Your Hair? Which Of These Organizations Do You Prefer?
