Why Donate Your Hair?
Hair loss is a commonside effect of cancer treatment.
It can be caused bychemotherapyor byradiationto the head.
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Not everyone who undergoes these treatments loses their hair.
Those feelings can rob an individual of strength and hope just when they need both to get well.
Wigs arent just about vanity.
What Hair Can Be Donated?
What Hair Is Usually Not Accepted?
They accept hair that’s at least 10 inches long in a braid or ponytail.
Gray hair is accepted, and they prefer non-chemically treated hair.
They require 12 inches of hair but recommend that you have 14 inches to spare.
Chai Lifeline
ChaiLifelinerequires 14 inches of hair and provides wigs to children with cancer.
Hair We Share
HairWeShareprovides wigs for people who have medical conditions that cause hair loss.
This includes cancer and burns.
They require only 8 inches of hair and accept hair that has been dyed (but not highlighted).
Thus, many people need to donate.
The hair can then be colored, cut, permed, and otherwise styled.
The result is a wig thats unique and personal.
People with hair loss can also choose a wig made with synthetic (non-human) hair.
These are less expensive, but they don’t look and feel as natural as human hair wigs.
Its also easier to style real hair in different ways.
There may also be restrictions on accepting hair that has been dyed or permed.
Check with the specific organization for detailed requirements.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0208118
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Hair Loss and Your Cancer Treatment.
National Cancer Institute.Hair loss (alopecia).
