Katie Stockhammer-DeSimone was only 16 when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She geared up for war by making a bold statement with her hair: she dyed it blue.
“I knew the chemo would make it fall out,” she says. So she decided to have some fun before it did.
When she eventually lost her locks, she decided not to wear a wig, and instead, showed off her sharply beautiful bone structure by embracing her baldness.
“Bald felt more natural and more me,” she notes. That said, many of the kids and teens she met during her journey did choose to wear wigs. “I saw firsthand that it gave many girls and boys a little extra comfort, confidence, and normalcy during a difficult experience.”
This inspired her to become a hair donor once she finished her treatments and was able to grow her mane back. Today, Katie donates once every four years, and one day, she will explain to her daughter Brooklyn the reason why.
“She’s already seen me do it twice,” Katie says, proudly, “I just chopped it off in February!”
Katie’s survival story is only one of many perspectives as to why people make the conscious decision to grow out and donate their hair. Those who haven’t personally experienced hair loss often do it for karmic credit. Sara Turney Gentile is one of those people; she grew out her hair for all four years of college and donated it.
“I was young and knew it would grow back,” she says. “And it’s good karma in case I ever find myself in need of someone else’s help.”
Author before donating hair.
Personally, I started donating for the same reason. When I was first diagnosed with lupus, I learned that dramatic hair loss is often a symptom of flare-ups. In fact, there are millions who suffer from diseases like mine, including alopecia, trichotillomania, cancer, and more. I thought, well, if I’m going to lose it anyway, maybe if I keep giving it away, I’ll get to keep it longer? And so, for the second time only a month ago, off went 20 inches with a hope and a blessing.
If you feel inspired to donate your hair, then keep reading. Here, we’re going to break down what you need to know in order to give the gift of hair and different places where you can send your donations.
Short strands after donating hair.
What Is the Process to Donate Hair Like?
Donating hair is not as simple as just cutting it off and sending it somewhere. Growing it out to a length that is usable for wig-making requires time, dedication, planning, and some cosmetic sacrifice (since “chemically altered hair” is not ideal). However, there are options for unplanned donations. There are some organizations that do accept chemically treated, colored, permed, and gray hair.
However, no matter the state of your hair, involving your stylist is the first step. It may take a few months or a few years, depending on how fast your hair grows, to reach a length that can be donated. So work with your stylist to make sure it’s trimmed properly and stays healthy. Many stylists will be familiar with how the donations need to be sectioned, so they can cut your hair in a functional way to deliver it—all while making sure your end look is as good as you’ll feel.
Embracing a new style after donation.
Where to Donate Hair or Get Involved
After you’ve made the decision to donate your hair and have gone through the process of growing it out, you have one final decision to make: who to give it to. After all, hair is tremendously personal, especially when intended as a gift.
The good news is that there is a wealth of resources and organizations focused on offering people wigs. Each has its own unique story, in addition to its own rules for submission, and it’s up to you to determine which resonates best with your own ideals and intentions.
Many organizations focus on kids. “Children shouldn’t have to worry about how they look, especially when they’re in the middle of a health crisis,” says, Wigs for Kids founder Jeffrey Paul. Since 1981, this organization has been providing custom-made hair replacements for young people affected by hair loss. The goal is to help these children feel a restored sense of self-image and self-esteem through their new hair. Two other groups that offer hair to young people include Chai Lifeline, which works with international families, and Children with Hair Loss, which has been around for over 20 years.
And of course, there’s Locks of Love, one of the original pioneers for hair donation on behalf of financially disadvantaged children with long-term hair loss. This is one of the groups that accept shorter cuts, chemically treated, and gray hair, selling these locks not suitable for wig donation to offset the hefty expense of wig-making.
There are also a plethora of organizations aimed at adults. BeYOUtiful Hair is an LA-based newcomer that is working hard to make a difference for females of all ages in that metro area, accepting hair from donors across the nation. Mississippi-based Pink Heart Funds has been doing the same since 2005, adding local services such as fitting individuals for wigs in their Victorian-style support space, along with providing women with free breast prosthetics and post-mastectomy bras. Lastly, Hair We Share provides hair for everyone—adults and children. As an added bonus, if you want to know more about where your strands end up, the company will track the path your hair takes in exchange for a monetary donation.
All of the organizations above pride themselves on providing wigs at no cost to those in need, making all of them admirable choices for how to upcycle your hair.
Interested in learning more about hair donation? Use our salon locator to book an appointment at a salon near you.
