Everything you need to know for your hair donation
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Thank you for your interest in donating your hair to kids in need!
In 2021, after years of offering free dry haircuts for hair donations, I officially became a salon affiliate and an ambassador for Wigs for Kids. This means I have been trained through them to ensure each hair donation that is sent in meets any and all requirements to become a wig for a kid in need. If you’ve found my salon through their salon affiliate locator, welcome and I’m so glad you’re here!
Once you make the decision to donate your hair you’ve already taken the first step to change someones life and how they feel about their look. Often times when the decision to grow hair for a donation it ends up becoming an after thought and hair care goes on the back burner, I mean you’re just going to cut it off anyway…right? There is never the wrong time to start taking the best care of your hair, and preparing to donate is an amazing time to start. All of that self hair care gets to be passed on to the recipient of the wig your hair is made out of, I think of it as passing on some good vibes/positivity and self love and who doesn’t need more of that?!
Most donation journeys can take anywhere from a few months to a few years till you are able to grow your hair to the length you need to to have 12+ inches to donate and also leave as much hair on your head to achieve the style that you want to wear. Here are some tips from a pro for donating:
Keep up with hair cuts: Making sure all of the hair you are donating is free from split ends is so important. At your donation appointment all split ends and damage has to be trimmed off prior to securing your hair for donating. If you have been growing out your hair and have not kept up with getting hair cuts routinely chances are you don’t have as much hair that is eligible to be donated as you thought. It’s such a disappointment when you make your appointment just to find out today isn’t the day you can donate! Avoid that disappointment and book a haircut appointment to trim off only your split ends at least every 6-8 weeks till you have reached your goal length.
Pamper yourself: Something that is often over looked is getting in salon treatments. This is such an important part of keeping your hair healthy. I’ve noticed a lot of people think of in salon treatments as a luxury or too much of splurge. The truth is a lot of the things that drive you nuts about your hair could be alleviated with a quarterly appointment to nourish your scalp and hair. There are so many different treatments available in salons now, everything from bond building repairing treatments to clarifying treatments to remove build up that can cause your hair to look dull, feel dry and contribute to unwanted brassiness.
Step up your at home hair care: Taking care of your hair in the salon at the change of the seasons or quarterly with in salon treatments is an amazing way to keep your hair healthy. But if after your day of pampering yourself and your hair at the salon you’re going to go home and use drug store shampoo and conditioner, not use heat protection and not protect your hair from the sun you can kiss those healthy hairs good-bye. Home care is the #1 most important part of healthy hair and not just when you’re taking care of it in preparation to donate. Unless you plan on shaving your head completely bald, the hair on your head now is still going to be there after you donate. Start taking care of it now. The more love you show your hair, the more you’ll love your hair. Needing a recommendation on at home products? Shoot me an email I’d love to help you fall in love with how you care for your hair!
Stop sleeping on wet hair! This is a big one! If you are not donating your hair please also stop sleeping on wet hair unless you are a big fan of frizz and breakage. Your hair is so fragile when it is wet and the friction from your pillowcase on your wet hair is the perfect storm to rough up and destroy your cuticle. This causes the frizz and fuzz and overall unruly hair that you just can’t seem to tame! Why pass on hair that drive you mad because it won’t stop misbehaving? Using a product that protects against heat damage and blow drying your hair on medium head and medium airflow after the shower is what I recommend for most of my clients. Depending on your hair texture or wash routine you may have different needs, booking a consultation to figure out a hair care regimen is something that can serve you well after your big donation.
I can’t wait till your donation day! Thanks again for making such a big difference for others by taking the time to donate your hair.
xoxo,
Cat
