When cancer treatment causes hair loss, receiving a wig can be a deeply personal moment that helps restore a sense of normalcy and confidence. Donating a wig or hair is a direct way to support individuals facing this challenge. Understanding where your donation can go and what specific guidelines must be followed ensures your contribution makes the greatest possible impact for cancer patients and others with medical hair loss.
Major Organizations That Accept Wig and Hair Donations
Several national organizations specialize in collecting and transforming hair into custom wigs for medical hair loss patients. These groups differ significantly in their recipient focus and the hair quality they accept, so it is important to choose carefully. Locks of Love focuses its mission on providing hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 21 who are suffering from long-term medical hair loss. They require a minimum length of 10 inches, measured tip to tip, and will accept hair that has been permed or color-treated, though they cannot use bleached hair.
Wigs for Kids is another major organization that provides hair replacement systems to children at no cost to the family, but they maintain stricter donation requirements. They ask for a minimum of 12 inches and do not accept hair that has been color-treated or chemically processed, ensuring the final product meets their quality standards. Hair We Share serves both children and adults who have medical hair loss, requiring a minimum of 12 inches for a standard donation. They accept dyed hair, provided it is in natural colors and has not been bleached.
For those looking to donate an existing wig, organizations like EBeauty operate a Wig Exchange Program. This program collects gently used wigs, refurbishes and sanitizes them, and then redistributes them free of charge to women undergoing cancer treatment. Reviewing each organization’s website for their current shipping location is advisable, as specific mailing addresses can change over time.
Preparing the Donation: Essential Requirements and Guidelines
Successful donation depends heavily on the condition and preparation of the hair before it is mailed. For a hair donation, the first requirement is length, typically 10 to 12 inches, measured from the cut point to the tip. The hair must be clean and completely dry before it is cut, as wet hair can develop mold during shipping, making it unusable for wig production.
The hair must be secured tightly in a ponytail or braid before the cut is made, with the elastic placed above the cutting point to keep the strands aligned. Hair swept off the floor cannot be used because the root and tip ends become mixed, which complicates the manufacturing process. After securing the dry hair, it should be placed in a sealed plastic bag and then packaged in a padded envelope for mailing, often including a completed donation form.
For donating a pre-made wig, the requirements focus on cleanliness and overall condition. Organizations require the wig to be gently used or new, clean, and in good repair, often preferring human hair wigs due to their durability and natural appearance. However, clean, high-quality synthetic wigs are sometimes accepted, depending on the program’s needs. Before mailing a pre-made wig, it is best to contact the recipient organization to confirm their specific needs for synthetic versus human hair and to ensure they are currently accepting those types of donations.
The Journey of a Donated Wig
Once the hair donation arrives at the organization, it begins a detailed process to be transformed into a hair replacement system. The initial step involves a thorough sorting process, where the hair is separated by color, texture, and length to ensure consistency for the final product. The collected hair is then sent to a specialized manufacturer to be chemically processed, a step that cleanses the hair and prepares it for construction.
During manufacturing, a significant portion of the hair’s length is lost, as several inches are folded back into the wig cap to form a smooth “return” that prevents spiky strands from protruding. Creating the hairpiece is labor-intensive, often involving individual strands being hand-tied onto a custom-fitted cap. The completed hairpieces are then distributed to recipients through an application process that may require documentation of medical hair loss and financial need. The patient receives the wig free of charge, often custom-fitted by a certified stylist to ensure comfort and a natural look.
Non-Hair Ways to Support Wig Programs
Donating hair is a wonderful contribution, but there are many other ways to support the mission of providing wigs to cancer patients. Financial contributions are a major source of funding, covering the costs associated with manufacturing a high-quality, custom hairpiece. The complex process of sorting, cleaning, processing, and hand-tying can cost an organization hundreds or even thousands of dollars per finished wig.
Many organizations welcome volunteers to assist with administrative tasks, fundraising events, or sorting and packaging incoming hair donations. This non-monetary support helps reduce overhead and allows the organization to focus more resources on wig production and distribution. Alternative donations, such as new head coverings, hats, or scarves, are also often accepted by programs that help patients manage hair loss.