I enjoy having long hair. I do NOT look good in short hair so I really like having long hair. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I can easily pull it back in a ponytail or that men tend to find longer hair sexier. (Yes, I do attempt to be sexy for my hubby.) I just like long hair. Now my hair has some natural curl to it and is extremely dry so when it gets to a certain length it’s time to cut it. If I don’t then I am not able to even brush it without my arms feeling like they are about to fall off. BUT I started reading more about hair donation (especially for kiddos) and decided to put up with the fuss a little bit longer so I would have enough length to donate and enough hair left to still make me feel good about myself.
First I had to find an organization that would take my hair. My hair had been colored (well, parts of it) and I have some gray hair. These are both issues to consider when selecting an organization. Not all organizations will accept colored hair and/or gray hair. I found this website on donating hair to be the best and it has a list of six different organizations to donate to. I looked at the various organization websites and what they offered to their patients. I had donated once before in high school to Locks of Love so I was familiar with the basic concept.
This time I decided to donate to Children with Hairloss. This organization accepts children who suffer from hair loss for a variety of reasons and doesn’t just give them one wig. Once they are accepted to receive help, the organization gives them one wig a year through their 18th birthday. I thought that was something special. Think about it, kids heads surely grow a little bit as they grow. And hair styles change, trends change, and everyone else around them probably get a new hair style, why not them?
After selecting an organization and reading their rules for donating. And after my hair got long enough to donate, I went to our local mall (a place that has adult cuts for $11) and simply told them I needed to cut my hair for donation first. It was as simple as that. I brought along my own Ziploc bag and ponytail holder. When I got home I laid the hair out on top of our armoire (so the 2 year old wouldn’t get it) to make sure the hair was fully dry. Once I knew it was, I put it in the envelope as directed and mailed it to the organization. That’s it, viola! Hair donation is simple and helps those who need it.
