Donating Hair
Can I donate my hair to the American Cancer Society?
The American Cancer Society does not accept hair donations directly; however, there are two organizations to which we refer people that can accept hair donations: Wigs for Kids and Pantene Beautiful Lengths.
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What is the Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign?
In 2006, Pantene, in partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), launched Pantene Beautiful Lengths (PBL), a national campaign that encourages people to donate their beautiful, healthy hair to create free wigs for women who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment. Pantene Beautiful Lengths wigs are provided by HairUWear and distributed through the American Cancer Society.
In support of the Society's goal to improve quality of life for cancer patients and their families, we are working with the Entertainment Industry Foundation and Pantene in a campaign titled "Pantene Beautiful Lengths." The promotion began in 2006 and it encourages women to grow and cut their hair to transform it into high quality wigs for cancer patients. These wigs are provided to patients through wig banks affiliated with the Society.
For child wig hair donation, why does the American Cancer Society refer people to Wigs for Kids and not organizations like Locks of Love?
We do not refer individuals wanting to donate their hair to Locks of Love or other similar organizations because they chiefly address alopecia areata, long-term hair loss, not short-term hair loss due to chemotherapy, radiation, and other drugs.
Wigs for Kids is a nonprofit organization providing hair replacement solutions for children affected by hair loss as a result of burns, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, alopecia, or other medical circumstances, referred by a medical professional and unable to pay for a hairpiece after seeking assistance from all other resources The hairpieces and services are provided without any associated costs to the families of the children.
How can patients request wigs?
For wig request questions and/or to learn about all Society services, please refer individuals to 1-800-227-2345.
