Can You Donate Hair to Someone Else?

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are common causes of hair loss in people. These treatments are for cancer and leukemia, and sometimes inevitable. It’s a worthy trade too, but the aftermath of losing your hair can affect your self-esteem.

Many conditions can cause hair loss, but modern medicine has made our options for combating this condition quite vast. We can use shampoos, capsules, hair oils, medications, and even hair transplants to improve hair loss.

On the other hand, conditions like trichotillomania and alopecia can also result in hair loss, which can be permanent or temporary.

Donating hair is relatively common these days, but more among women than men. That’s because your hair must reach a particular length before it meets the requirements most organizations stipulate, and for that to happen, you need to grow it out.

Now, several facilities and organizations have taken it upon themselves to encourage hair donation.

Men with long hair may have difficulty getting white-collar jobs unless they can explain why they’re growing their hair beyond acceptable societal standards. If you want to know more about donating your hair, please read on. We’ll explore some tips that’ll make the process easier, more satisfactory, and worth your efforts.

Can a Man Donate Hair to Someone Else?

You may be more familiar with women donating hair, and that’s because of the ease attached. Conventionally, women grow their hair long, so it won’t be difficult for them to meet the 12-inch minimum length requirement most hair collection centers demand.

However, men can’t say the same. You seldom see a man grow his hair out, and when he does, it’s only in exceptional cases people consider it fashionable. As such, men rarely qualify to be hair donors unless they make a conscious and deliberate effort to do so.

So, donating hair is also expected of men – you can donate your locks, but they need to be at least 8 inches long. There are many benefits of growing your hair and donating it. For one, you’ll feel much happier because you’ve become a part of something larger than you. You’ll also be putting a smile on someone with hair loss’s face.

The Do’s of Hair Donation for Men

Since you’ve never donated your hair before, you may be a bit clueless about what to expect. That’s why we’ve created this guide – you can use it to ensure you qualify as a hair donor.

Trim your hair

Split-ends are very common because of the weather, products we use on our hair, and many other factors. So, one of the first steps you need to take is to visit a salon to get your hair ends trimmed. Of course, you have to donate healthy hair, as the hair donation collection center will use it for wigs that can last long years.

When these split ends occur, they start at the tip of your strands. When neglected, they keep traveling until they attack the root of your follicles, resulting in limp and unhealthy tresses. This keeps happening even when the hair has been made into a wig. Before you know it, too much damage has been done.

Ensure you trim your split ends before you even consider snipping your hair off for donation.

Clean and dry your hair

Next, you’ll need to ensure that you clean and dry your hair before you cut it for donation. You can’t donate wet hair because it’ll develop mold long before it arrives at the donation center. You should also avoid using hair care products before packaging and shipping the bundles.

Research your donation collection center before snipping

As we’ve earlier mentioned, hair donation organizations have different requirements. So, to avoid wasting your bundles, research the organization you want to donate to before you cut your hair. Check their minimum length, in particular, as if you fall short by an inch, your hair may have little to no use for them.

Follow instructions closely

If you’re donating your hair, it’s important to remember that most organizations receive contributions from donors regularly and will thus have a lot of work on their hands. As such, they expect that you’ll follow all their instructions to make acceptance and processing much easier for them.

If you and your friends or family donate, don’t mix your ponytails. Pay attention to their packaging and shipping instructions. Even if you live together, always fill your forms, package, and ship separately.

Don’t send unnatural hair

Most organizations don’t accept hair that’s been colored or dyed. Even highlights aren’t allowed, and the same applies to perms.

However, if you can wash out these styling options, you can still donate your hair. Ensure it’s dry before you send it out.

Sidepiece: It’s best to wash your hair before cutting and packaging it. If you won’t be using a salon that’s affiliated with the hair donation organization you’re choosing, then you can have your regular wash, air, or blow-dry, then part into four to six ponytails and cut them.

You should arrange the hair in bundles and secure them in a nice tight ponytail with some rubber bands. Cut the hair above the bands to ensure they remain firm even during transportation.

Visit a donation salon

Alternatively, you can visit a donation salon. These are salons that work directly with hair donation organizations. They know every requirement and will cut your hair to match them.

Don’t send gray hair

This requirement doesn’t entirely exclude the aging population. Some organizations don’t accept gray hair for one reason or the other. So, before you snip off your gray locks, make inquiries.

If the one you’ve chosen doesn’t accept gray hair, then consider other options.

Bottom Line

Did you know that the tresses you’re donating are essentially the gift of confidence? People with hair loss are fighting a physical, emotional, and in some cases, medical battle. They need everything they can get to help them feel better about themselves.