I’ve been blessed with hair that is thick and grows quickly (though not as thick or as quickly now that I’m older, it’s still better than average). Since I discovered Locks of Love, I donated my hair every 18 months or so, which is about how long it took to grow 11 inches.
I truly wish this service had been available when I was in college. At that time my hair was growing around an inch a month and was three times as thick as it is now. I could have helped so many people.
Locks of Love has generous guidelines. While they need a minimum hair length of 10 inches (if curly, length when pulled straight and measured), shorter hair can be sold to offset their manufacturing process, as can gray hair. The hair needs to be in a ponytail or braid.
I decided to stop donating after I turned 50. My last donation actually took place after my 51st birthday. The aggravation of growing it long, and the headaches it was sometimes causing, made me decide to take a break. My hair’s gotten a bit long again, but I don’t think it’s long enough to donate. I found the pictures I took before and after my last donation which I’ll attach below. If I find my hair has gotten this long again, I’ll donate again, but I don’t think I’ve reached the mark by at least three inches and I’m ready to get a trim.
If you have long hair and decide to make the change to short hair, and haven’t bleached your hair, Locks of Love would like to use your hair to help make hair pieces for children suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Give it a thought!
Before and after my hair donation in January 2011