Hair Donation

I’ve been growing my hair since Little K was born. He’s always found a lot of comfort in rubbing my strands of hair between his fingers, especially when breastfeeding. Otherwise, I’m a short hair girl. I feel the most myself with a short hairdo. I thought, since I was growing my hair out anyway, I might be able to donate it to a worthy cause.

I choose to donate my braid to Pantene. They take 8 inches or more and do not charge clients for wigs. Locks for Love charges clients a partial fee for wigs and also needs 10 inches. I only had 9 inches.

Do you know how to donate your hair? I got this information from Oprah’s website.

Hair must be clean (shampooed and/or conditioned) without styling, hairspray or additional hair products.

Gather hair at the nape of the neck.
Create a ponytail using an elastic band. Ensure the band is tight around the hair to keep the hair together after cutting. If the hair comes out of the band it will not be usable. (A second hair band can be placed around the middle of the ponytail to help keep the hair together after cutting.)

Ensure the elastic band is just below where you want to cut your hair.

Measure the length of the ponytail from the elastic band; make sure the hair is at least 8 inches. Any length shorter than 8 inches is too short to be used in a wig and will not be used. There is no maximum length requirement. (If your hair is not 8 inches, continue to grow your hair out.)

Cut the hair just above the elastic band such that the band remains on the ponytail after cutting and keeps the hair together. Do not wash or style the ponytail in any way after it has been cut off.

Place the ponytail, kept intact and completely dry, in a plastic zipper-lock bag.

Place the plastic bag with the ponytail in a padded or plastic envelope and mail to:
Pantene Beautiful Lengths
511 Wisconsin Drive
New Richmond, WI 54017-2613.

This is the cut I had before I had kids, and it’s strange to have my hair in a bob again. I’ve changed so much since I last had this hair cut. I wonder if it’s me anymore on the first day with my hair short. I’ll have to see how I feel as time ticks. It will definitely be cooler in this humid New England summer.