Donating Hair for a Locks of Love Salon

Donate hair to a needy child suffering hair loss as a result of a medical condition.

Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that donates hair to financially disadvantaged children who have lost their hair because of some medical condition. The organization seeks to return children's feeling of normalcy while undergoing treatment for a disease. Most of the children who receive donations through Locks of Love have lost their hair due to alopecia areata, a disease with no cure.

Things You'll Need

• 10 inches of clean, dry hair in a pony tail or braid
• Hair care clinic that follows Locks of Love guidelines
• Locks of Love donation form
• Plastic bag
• Envelope

Instructions

1. Choose a haircare facility. Most barbershops and beauty salons offer free haircuts if Locks of Love donations are made. Participating stores have Locks of Love signs hanging in the window.

   Remember, hair needs to be least 10 inches long from tip to tip to be considered.

2. Ask the stylist or barber to clean and dry your hair. Locks of Love only accepts hair donations that are completely clean and 100 percent dry.

3. Have your hair cut, following Locks of Love Guidelines available at www.locksoflove.org.

4. Place cut ponytail or braid inside a plastic bag, which must then be placed inside of an envelope.

5. Fill out a hair donation form, if you'd like to be thanked personally for your donation. You can also write your name and address on a separate piece of paper, and place it in the envelope.

6. Mail hair donation to Locks of Love at 234 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL, 33405-2701.

7. Thank yourself for providing dignity to a child struggling with a disease.

Tips & Warnings

• Hair that has been cut years ago can be accepted if in a pony tail or braid. Gray hair will be separated from the pony tail and sold to reduce Locks of Love's costs.

• Donation forms can be downloaded off Locks of Love's website, http://www.locksoflove.org.

• Hair swept off the floor is unusable. Hair must always be bundled in a pony tail or braid. Therefore, hair that is shaved off cannot be used. Dreadlocks are not accepted. Hair that has been bleached or highlighted is also not usable.

References

• Locks of Love: Donate Hair