Giving back is something my parents, teachers and friends always have encouraged me to do. During my sophomore year of high school, I noticed that my hair was getting longer, and as it grew longer, I started to think about cutting it.

Since I was a young girl, I dreamed about having long, beautiful hair just like the Disney princesses in my favorite movies. I remember logging on to Facebook and seeing a post about a young girl battling leukemia. Just by looking at her picture, you could tell what a toll chemotherapy had taken on her young, restless body. It was then that the idea of hair donation occurred to me. After prom my senior year, I decided I would donate my hair through the Locks of Love Foundation. Hair donation is a cause that seems to be overlooked by many people, however, the benefits and lessons that come from it are endless.

Patience.

A trait not obtained by many people. Growing your hair out can take a long amount of time. It took me about four years total to get the inch range I wanted to donate. The longer our hair grows, the more annoying it becomes, so being patient with your hair is also important, especially when it comes to taking proper care of your head of hair.

It isn’t always about money.

Giving to a good cause does not always have to have a dollar sign attached to it. Sometimes the gifts we can selflessly give are the gifts that go the furthest. Money comes and goes, but the gift of a full head of hair is something to be cherished forever.

It’s painless, and free!

We all know haircuts can get pretty pricey. However, many salons offer discounts or free haircuts if you intend to donate! Another good aspect is that haircuts are totally painless, which means there is no reason you should be worried to do it!

It brings happiness to everyone.

Giving the gift of hair brings so much happiness and joy to the receivers and donators alike! Nothing is better than knowing a selfless deed will brighten someone’s day, every day.

The impact can result to be greater than you know.

Unless we have been in the position of not having hair, we never truly know how hard it is to live a bald life. We all know the saying, “bald is beautiful,” but we do not always know the entirety of dealing with it. The impact of giving hair can be greater than we imagine. To some, it’s a whole new opportunity at life.

One match can make an explosion.

Setting the example of hair donation can inspire so many other people to donate their locks, too! Which is why I am encouraging everyone to “G(r)o(w) out and donate!”

After cutting my hair, I came to whopping 16 inches of hair to be donated. Within a couple months of cutting my hair, sealing it up, and mailing it, my hair was on someone’s head, making a difference in their life. Giving hair is so simple, and all it takes is some patience, willpower, and a pair of scissors. I encourage everyone to g(r)o(w) out and donate. You never know the impact you will have on someone’s life.

Information on donating hair

Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths – 8 inch minimum

Helping Children with Hair Loss – 8 inch minimum

Wigs for Kids – 12 inch minimum

Locks of Love – 10 inch minimum

• Hair must be in a ponytail or braid before being cut.
• Curly hair may be pulled straight before measuring.
• Hair may be colored, just not bleached.