Let me tell you a story about a really stupid thing that was said to me recently.

I am growing my hair out long, as you can see here. A woman asked me “Are you growing your hair out to donate to Locks of Love?”

“No,” I replied.

She frowned at me. “You really should consider it. Think about all the wigs your hair could be made into for kids with cancer. I donated mine recently and it was the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. I’m planning to grow it out and donate it again.” She walked away, shaking her head.

First of all, lady, you’re pretty much just an ass. My hair is my business and who are you to try and GUILT me into donating it? If you aim to get people on your side, you’d be better off to inform… and speaking of information, yours is a bit off.

Locks of Love (and other hair donation organizations) primarily provides human hair wigs for patients with the autoimmune disorder alopecia areata, though they do also provide some wigs for cancer patients. Not that it’s any less important- but facts are facts. I guess it’s way more dramatic to say “kids with cancer”, plus everyone understands it. However, people with temporary hair loss (such as chemo patients) and children under age six whose heads are still growing receive synthetic wigs. This is stated right on their website.

Also, the human hair wigs are not always donated to people who need them. They have a sliding scale based on financial need. Not that this is a bad thing- they’ve got to stay in business somehow- but it’s often thought that wigs are always donated to people with hair loss, and that’s just not the case.

Now, the most important factor as to why I’m keeping my hair on my own head: roughly 80% of donated hair is thrown away or sold because it’s unusable for wigs. My hair would be unusable for wigs. It’s highly chemically treated, overprocessed, dry, and very damaged. It’s likely not even sellable. So if I did donate my hair, it’d all be for naught anyway.

But do you know what I can do? And you can do it too, if you’re not interested in donating your hair. You can donate money. You’ll know for sure your donation helped out and didn’t end up in a trash bin that way.

Please don’t misunderstand my intentions here. Yes, Locks of Love and other wig providing organizations DO use human hair in good condition to make wigs for people who need them. And clearly, people who donate have their hearts in the right place. Just be informed of the facts behind the organizations you’re donating to.

And please, please don’t ever belittle someone about their decision regarding a donation. Even if their hair is down to the floor and you feel their hair could be made into 20 wigs, it is their hair and their choice.