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I Donated My Hair, and You Can, Too!

Today I got an email notifying me that Wigs for Kids received my hair donation!


Wigs for Kids is a nonprofit which provides free wigs to children without natural hair. Getting a wig can give many kids more self-confidence about their appearance, helping them get through a difficult time. 

 My hair was around 22 inches braided, probably making it a good 24 inches in length brushed out straight. It was a lot of hair. Although I have straight hair, people with any hair type or color -- including gray hair -- can donate, as long as the hair you're giving hasn't been dyed or chemically treated. They put the donated hair through a whole treatment process when making the wigs, so split ends and the like don't matter, either. 

 I have no personal use for my long hair. I had made a resolution -- what, two years ago now? -- that I was going to grow out my hair for donation. It's bright blond and fine, and I have a lot of it. According to the hairdresser, it's also very similar to the texture of a child's hair. 

 Wigs for Kids relies on donations to keep their wigs free, since the creation process can be costly. I will be sending them a donation in the mail later this month, once I pay my bills and rent. This month was tricky financially since I had to take my car to the shop, but I want to be helpful beyond just giving my hair. 

 On a personal level, I'm glad to get rid of the hair. It was in the way. It was annoying. It made my personal hygiene routine longer and that much more tiring. I hated the way it made my face look. I disliked the ultra-feminine look of long blond hair, too. Looking at myself with the hair in the mirror every morning was like a punch to the gut, because I've had short hair my whole life and this was not me at all. It wasn't all bad, and it does seem like a weird thing to complain about, but I vastly prefer my new (old) short hair. 

 Some kid will get a wig with hair they will appreciate more than I did. That's a good thing. 

 You can donate your hair, too! Check here to see if you meet their donation requirements. :)

Comments

  1. Loni TownsendFri Jan 20, 09:50:00 AM CST

    It's been three years since I chopped off all mine, though it wasn't nearly as long as yours. Short hair is nice and easy. Plus I like to dye it different colors, and having it short means I can switch it often. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LauraFri Jan 20, 04:19:00 PM CST

      Ooh, neat! Yep, all I do now is dry it and maybe put a little mousse in it or something.
      Dyeing can be a lot of fun. It does seem like it would be waaaay easier to dye with short hair; I didn't consider that.

      Delete
  2. Sheena-kay GrahamFri Jan 20, 10:37:00 AM CST

    I agree that long hair can be tiresome to take care of. Mine is short right now and I want to explore that. Though I kinda want it to get a little longer. So wonderful you donated hair Laura. I'm glad to see you so happy in this post. Maybe you found the way to put a pep back in your step all on your own.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LauraFri Jan 20, 04:16:00 PM CST

      It does kind of feel like a weight has been lifted. I joked to the hairdresser that I was about to lose 3 pounds, haha. There's a lot to play with in terms of short and medium styles! Hope you find a look you like. :)

      Delete
  3. AlyssaFri Jan 20, 07:08:00 PM CST

    Cool! I've never had healthy enough or long enough hair to donate it, but I've always loved the idea! What a cool thing to be able to do. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LauraMon Jan 23, 10:04:00 PM CST

      :) I thought about growing it out to do again, but...ugh. I didn't like long hair at all. Idk about hair health, that's something I didn't consider. They gave me the impression that the chemical treatment process takes care of that. But yeah, it does have to be, what, 12 inches at least?

      Delete
  4. UnknownSun Apr 02, 07:46:00 AM CDT

    Nice!

    ReplyDelete

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