Makes you wonder how much real hair is used in the US for wigs and hairpieces.  Locks of Love collects lots of ponytails for their wigs, and actually sells most of the collections.  Yet I see primarily synthetic hair pieces on the market.  Who is buying the real hair hairpieces?

Actually, synthetic hair is usually easier to manage.  They hold their style without requiring setting.  To wash, you just swish with a gentle shampoo in the sink, rinse and dry.  Shake it out a bit after it has dried, then brush.  A real-hair wig requires special handling and typically a trip to the hair salon to be cleaned and re-styled.

Locks of Love requests pony tails that are at least 10 inches.  They say it takes 15 - 20 pony tails to make one of their wigs.

Personnally, I would not donate hair to them.  They do not distribute that many wigs.  They sell the majority of the hair, and their accounting practices do not meet the Better Business Bureau standards for charitable organizations.  They tend to try to make people feel guilty for having long hair.

The medical profession recommends synthetic wigs for cancer victims because they are more comfortable, less costly, and easier to maintain.

If I want to help kids who suffer hair loss, there are better ways for me to do it.  I would donate money to research for the prevention or cure of the causes.

Thanks for your support on this issue, Rapunzel!  My stomach turns everytime I hear another Locks of Love campaign.   

The BBB rates charities on their financial status as a not-for-profit.  Locks of Love does not rate well.  Here is the web page of the most recent rating.

http://www.give.org/reports/care2_dyn.asp?733

You are not selfish.  A donation should be made of your own free will, not out of guilt.  LoL sells most of the hair it receives, so your hair most likely would end up in some hair warehouse not on a child's wig.

When I am asked why I don't donate to LoL, I tell them I donate blood on a regular basis, I donate financially to many charitable organizations and I volunteer my time.  My hair probably would not help a child as much as the blood, money or time I give, so I will keep my hair until I am ready to cut it. 

*rant alert*

why should we feel guilty for having long hair.....of all things??!!!!!!!!!!
do the people who accuse us of being selfish feel guilty for eating when others are starving, for buying luxury items when others a homeless? NO. just as we shouldnt feel guilty for growing and enjoying our hair, there are more selfish things out there.

whenever i see a charity for childrens cancer, i will always try to donate. like Bikerbraid, i feel this is far more beneficial.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr it makes me so ANGRY that some people think we should just hack are hair off....!       

*rant over....steps off soap box*

...so, how are you?