An unexpected way to give back to those in need without having to spend money to do so seems impossible, but it’s not. Donating hair to those in need is an extraordinary avenue to explore.  

I have been freely donating my hair since I was ten and so far, I have donated 66 inches. It only costs me time to do this, but it is priceless to know that I am helping others. Two well-known organizations that accept hair donations are Locks of Love (LOL) and Wigs for Kids (WFK). The thing is, though, that LOL was founded in conjunction with a for-profit wig retailer.  

WFK is a non-profit that offers free wigs to those under the age of 18. The WFK mission statement says: “The various causes of hair loss in children do not result in just physical suffering. The change in their appearance can drastically undermine their self-image and sabotage their self-esteem.”  

Keep in mind, it costs around $1,800 to create a custom hair replacement, and this company gives them to those in need for free. They have a quick and easy method to apply and donate hair along with the option to add a monetary donation if desired. There is never a time that they ask for money from those needing a donation. 

LOL asks for financial information when signing up to donate hair. They have monetary support options such as buying a stuffed bear or becoming a sponsor in addition to asking for that information. I do not understand why they would ask for this irrelevant information if their wigs were supposed to go to those in need.  

LOL’s mission states that they are, “…devoted to helping every child suffering from medical hair loss, thus we do not discriminate as to the cause of hair loss,” but then they go and ask for financial information from struggling families? 

They later go on to say, “Our recipients are financially disadvantaged children, age 21 and under, suffering from long-term medical hair loss from a diagnosis.” To be honest, that does not sound as inclusive as you are claiming to be. 

Honestly, as soon as I learned that LOL is not entirely free, I started donating to WFK. If I’m going to freely grow this hair and donate it, someone else is getting it for free. End of discussion.