Donating Hair

Many of us have the urge to help people who are suffering from diseases and do not have the money to treat themselves. However, most of us are not able to do so because of lack of finances. Nevertheless, if you want to do charity work, it need not be strictly monetary. Rather, there are several other ways in which you can do good work. This includes donating blood or plasma, one of the kidneys, bone marrow, etc. Apart from these, people can also donate hair to people who have lost their hair permanently or temporarily due to some diseases or treatment. The hair donated by people undergo a process where they are converted into wigs and given to patients who cannot afford to buy a wig for themselves. If you are interested in donating hair for a cause, here are certain things that you ought to know about hair donation.

Criteria for Hair Donation
There are various organizations who accept donated hair for cancer patients, as well as those who suffer from the problem of alopecia due to which people lose their hair permanently. The hair which is donated is then made into a wig and sometimes, customized according to the needs of the individual for whom the wig is being made. Each organization has certain criteria for donation which people interested in donating hair should know. However, some of the things are common in all organizations and have to be adhered to, if you want to donate your hair for charity.

Most of the criteria that are set by the organization are concerning the length as well as the quality of the hair. The hair which you donate should be healthy as well as clean. Hair which is dirty and those which have split ends are generally not accepted. Moreover, hair which has undergone chemical treatment like bleach, permanent color or perm is also not considered to be fit for donation. However, most organizations do accept hair which has semi-permanent color on it. When it comes to the length of the hair, most organizations accept hair which is 10-12 inches long. Nevertheless, some places also accept hair which is just 8 inches long. Another important thing that you should know is that you cannot donate strands of hair. In other words, the hair should be cut only after tying it into a pony tail or braid. Also, while cutting, you should make sure that the hair does not fall on the floor. This is because hair which is taken from the floor is not accepted as a donation.

How is Hair Donation Done?
There are many hair salons who give their customers an opportunity to do charity by sending their chopped locks to organizations that make wigs for patients who have lost their hair. If you wish to donate your hair, tell this to your stylist who will follow the guidelines that has to be adhered to while chopping hair which has to go for donation. If you do not find any such salon, you can get your haircut from your local salon and mail to the organization yourself. However, before you send your hair, thoroughly research the organization. There are various Internet sites that give information about the organizations that make wigs with donated hair. Send your hair to these places only when you are sure that it is a reputed organization.

An important thing that donors have to understand is that not all hair that are donated are used to make wigs. The hair you donated will go through several process and will be combined with the hair of other people to make a single wig. Also, sometimes, the donated hair cannot be put to use and in such cases, the hair will not be sent back to the donor. Apart from donating hair to charity, some people also do it for making money. However, donating hair for money is not charity work, it is usually done by people who need money for their personal use. Human hair is used for various purposes including making wigs, hair extensions, false eyelashes, etc. The criteria of donating hair for monetary reasons are similar to that which is given above.

I do hope that you find this article on donating hair interesting and informative. So, if you are planning to cut your long hair short, just to beat the rising heat of summer, why not plan to donate your lovely locks for a good cause. Remember that by donating your hair, you are giving a person an opportunity to lead a normal life.