In a matter of seconds, the hair that had been a part of me for over two years was detached and separated from myself. I stared in shock, flashes of excitement and fear coursed through me. The six cut ponytails, measuring up to twelve inches in length each, felt monumental in my hands; juxtaposing the simplistic action of a pair of scissors enacting this drastic change. A change initiated by my desire to donate my hair.

Donate to who? 

Philanthropic organizations across the nation have devoted themselves to creating wigs and/or hair pieces for children that suffer from illnesses triggering hair loss. These recipients may include cancer patients, burn victims, children with autoimmune diseases, and so on. Locks of Love and Wigs for Kids have both made a name for themselves within this particular field. The individuals behind these organizations act as the manufacturing bridge between the donor and recipient; taking the hair and transforming it into a gift for the affected child.

The Process

The process of donating your hair begins with the research of which reputable organization you will be sending your donation to. Each philanthropy has a valiant mission in helping these children suffering from medical hair loss, although they have slight differences to consider. Ranging from 7 inches and up, there are varying minimum length requirements. As well as whether or not the organization will accept colored and treated hair. It is encouraged to donate as much as you are comfortable with in order to have the greatest impact on these kids! Once you have the group recipient for your donation chosen, you take the brave step of chopping those ponytails off, sealing them into a ziplock, and mailing it to whichever hair loss philanthropy you are serving!

Our Internal Struggle with Change

I will speak freely and openly. I without a doubt cried after my haircut…aggressively. Whichever friends of mine received a crying Snapchat video, you know who you are, thank y’all for the encouragement in my moment of delirium. Not out of regret, but rather fear. A moment reflecting the “looking glass self,” a concept in which we assume how others perceive us, consequently affecting our sense of self. In this instance, I had the compliments of my long hair on repeat, egging on the imagination of the nonexistent disappointed faces of my new look. It is a sobering reality that we often attest our worth to our perceived physical appearance rather than the true worth that is found in our demeanor and inner selves. A recent Tiktok trend states that “hair holds memories,” memories with friends, family, and a self that has now changed and entered the new world of college! It is as if cutting away the old allows for the new version of myself to grow. That is what change is about, isn’t it? A fresh start in which you take a leap of faith and learn anew. I walked into the salon having stick-straight hair that took a three second brush through before walking out the door and left with curtain bangs, layers, and 12 less inches that I needed to learn how to style. While I was intimidated at first, I am now irrevocably excited to claim this renewed identity that has been offered by letting go of such a large part of my physical self. The hesitancy surrounding donating a large portion of your hair is misconstrued too often as there is too much focus on what is being lost and not enough on what is being gained: a refreshed self and a child’s renewed confidence.

Donation Impact

Childhood is meant to be filled with playgrounds, security, and a whole bunch of laughs. This is sadly not the case for the communites of children that have had their deserved childhood replaced with hospital rooms, uncertainty, and a whole bunch of change. With the loss of hair comes the loss of self esteem, courage, and hope. The physical alteration goes hand in hand with the mental challenges that follow being powerless to your illness. In donating your hair to a child that has lost their own, you are offering them the gift of retrieving a portion of normalcy back into their young lives that have been too unfairly pained. Yes, you are making a sacrifice by handing over a part of your physical self, but that sacrifice appears so miniscule compared to the reward of bettering a suffering child’s mental health. In rising above the reservations surrounding cutting off an entire foot of my hair, I am proud of the decision as it has the potential to make all the difference to someone else in this world!

Written by Logan Hansen, Photographer: Parker Elkins, Graphic Designer: Izzy Davis, Social Media: Sara Hartung