This past week, I donated my hair for the fifth time. I'm lucky enough to have thick hair that grows fast, so why not?

Cutting off such a significant amount of hair might be a big step for some people, but I'd absolutely suggest you try donating at least once. It's for a good cause, and if you don't like it, well, hair grows back! Here's how the donating process works, and a few good organizations to donate to.

What to expect

When you donate your hair, the cut length must be a minimum of 8-12 inches long, depending on the organization. Of course, if your hair is longer and you want to cut it all off, they will gladly accept that. If your hair is layered, it's fine, as long as the shortest pieces of hair reach the required length. Your hair must be healthy – most organizations require undyed hair that has not been permed, but some will accept this hair as long as it's still healthy. Hair must be clean and dry before cutting.

Your hair stylist will tie your hair back into a low ponytail, and cut above the ponytail holder so the hair stays together. They'll put your hair in a ziploc bag, and style the rest of your hair however you want. Afterwards, you bring home your ponytail and mail it to whichever organization you choose to donate to.

Where to donate

There's a variety of organizations that make wigs out of donated hair; many of them focus on providing wigs to children with cancer or other illnesses.

The first time I donated my hair, I sent it to Locks of Love, which requires a 10-inch donation. It's by far the most popular organization, but after my first time, I stopped donating there because of some rumored shady business practices. The last four times I donated, I sent my hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. Some of the reasons I prefer this organization are that it's more reputable than Locks of Love, and it only requires 8 inches of hair, so I can grow my hair out and donate more often.

Other organizations that make wigs out of donated hair are Wigs for Kids, Children With Hair Loss and Angel Hair for Kids. Information about the organizations, minimum required hair length, and the address to mail your hair can be found on their websites.

Happy donating!