Jump to:
Are you looking to cut off those legs and wondering where to donate hair? If you’re asking yourself, “How long does my hair have to be to donate?” you’ve come to the right place for the answer.
How Long Does Hair Have to Be to Donate?
925am/Shutterstock
Hair donation is a selfless way to assist women, men, and children who may be looking to purchase wigs or hair extensions due to medical conditions or for personal style and manageability. If you’re considering donating your hair, it’s helpful to know the most reputable places to donate it.
Every hair donation organization will have its own requirements, so understanding the various conditions, lengths, and color requirements will make your life a lot easier before you trim off those luscious locks.
Generally, most organizations will require a hair length of at least 10 to 12 inches for donation, and hair lengths of 20-30 inches or more are even more desirable.
Many organizations will also cut your hair for you if you’d rather not perform this step yourself. In most cases, you can simply mail the hair in. But some companies allow you to come in where they offer free cutting services.
Overall, the process of donating is fairly straightforward. Let’s take a look at some of the most well-known and reputable places to send your donated hair.
Where to Donate Your Hair
MaeManee/Shutterstock
There are numerous organizations and non for profit agencies that welcome hair donations. They use their donations to make wigs, hairpieces, extensions, and more for those who find themselves in need.
1. Wigs for Kids
Another good organization to consider is Wigs for Kids is another great hair donation organization. They are based in Westlake, Ohio, and have been in business for over 30 years.
They provide hair and wigs for children who suffer from hair loss, and they have multiple locations all around the US. To donate to wigs for kids, your hair must be at least twelve inches and it cannot be chemically treated or gray.
This organization also offers free and discounted haircuts for donors. For added convenience, you can also mail your hair directly to a local facility or the main office in Westlake.
2. Locks of Love
Locks of Love is one of the most reputable and oldest hair donation charities. The hair donated to the organization goes to disadvantaged children who are suffering from illnesses, or other causes of hair loss appear.
They have a 10-inch hair requirement, and the hair must be bound in a ponytail or by use of a braid. They openly welcome all hair textures, and as long as the hair is not damaged, they will also accept gray-colored hair.
Locks of Love will accept both colored and permed tresses. To donate, you can simply mail the hair in along with a sheet of paper directly to their location in Florida.
3. Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan
Not to be confused with the Wigs For Kids donation organization, Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan is located in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. In addition to wigs, they also provide other services for children in the state of Michigan, such as educational and wellness programs.
All donations to Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids must be at least 10 inches in length and no more than 10% grey. The organization doesn’t accept colored or chemically treated hair, though they do provide free haircuts directly at the facility.
They also provide consultations, styling, and cuts at a 50% discount. Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids allows donors to mail in donations directly to their location and you can provide sponsorship for children as well.
4. Children With Hair Loss
Children With Hair Loss is located in Rockwood, Michigan. All hair donations to this charity go to children who are suffering from hair loss for a wide range of medical conditions.
Their wig and hair extension programs offer both temporary and long-term hair replacement solutions. They have more relaxed donation requirements, so if you are looking for an organization that accepts shorter lengths, colored, or chemically treated hair, this may be good to check out.
They require that the hair be placed in a ponytail and that it’s the least 8 inches long. You can send the donation to their Rockwood office.
5. Hair We Share
If you’re looking to donate your hair, Hair We Share is another donation organization worth checking out. They’re a 501c3 organization, and they require a minimum donation of $25 to accompany your hair donation.
You can mail donations to their local office in Roslyn Heights, New York. They provide wigs for both adults and children who may be suffering from hair loss due to medical reasons.
Hair We Share also has a tracking program that allows you to see the final results of the wig that was created using your donation. They do not accept chemically treated or bleached hair, and the hair must be sealed in a plastic bag in order to be accepted.
6. Angel Hair for Kids (Canada)
Angel Hair for Kids has been around for decades and is one of the most well-known hair donation centers in Canada. The organization services under the umbrella of A Child’s Voice Foundation.
They provide hair for disadvantaged children in addition to several complementary educational programs and hair services. To donate to Angel Hair for Kids, your hair must be in a ponytail or braids and at least 10 to 12 in length.
All donations must come from natural hair, colored or treated hair will not be accepted. Gray, shave, or dreadlocked hair will not be accepted at this organization.
Hair Donation FAQs
David Prato Perucha/Shutterstock
Now that you know the go-to donation organizations for hair let’s discuss if you commonly asked questions regarding the process:
Why do people donate hair?
People donate hair to assist children and adults who have medical conditions or who’ve suffered a trauma causing hair loss. Everyone’s reason for donation is different, but ultimately the goal is to assist someone in need.
What kind of hair is best to donate?
Most hair donation facilities will accept donations of all textures except for chemically treated or colored hair. There is also a requirement for hair to be at least 10 to 12 inches in length, making it long enough to construct a wig.
Can you mail in donated hair?
Foremost hair donation organizations, yes. You can usually mail in the hair directly to the facility. However, it’s best to contact them directly or visit their website to gather knowledge of the types of hair that they accept and how it should be prepared.
Do hair donation organizations accept gray hair?
Some charities will accept gray hair (or hair that’s partially gray), but many don’t. So it’s best to confirm this beforehand.
Does it cost any money to donate hair?
Typically no, there usually isn’t a fee to donate your hair. However, some organizations may require a small donation of $10 to $25 to accompany each hair donation. If they do, this information will usually be listed on their website.
So, Where Can You Donate Hair?
There are a number of great organizations to which you can donate hair in the US. Most of these two organizations have requirements, including that the hair is at least 10 to 12 inches in length and not chemically treated or colored.
If you can’t find a local facility to donate your hair, most will accept donations via mail. However, be sure to check the organization’s donation requirements before performing that big chop.