Anyone done Locks of Love?

[disneymom3]

Hi, for those who don't know, this is an organization that accepts donations of hair for children who through some illness have lost their hair and whose families cannot afford wigs for them.

DD (and I) have been growing our hair out for almost two years. (Hers was really short when she started.) You have to have a 10" ponytail. She almost gave up last winter and I said if she did it, I would do it too, to encourage her to not give up. So, in about October, both of our hair was long enough. However, then she got a part in a play and couldn't change her hairstyle.

At any rate, we are now ready to get our hair cut. There is a really nice salon in town that does it for free and then there are some cheapy places that also do it for free. The question I have is that someone told me that if the salon sends in your hair, you do not get the thank you certificate from Locks of Love. This has been a long term goal for DD and I think it would be really neat to have a keepsake such as the thankyou letter. If I cut it at home, I can send it in myself and will in fact do that if we wouldn't get the note from them by going to a salon.

So, the question is, has anyone done this and did you get an acknowledgement?

Thanks!

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

My best friend did this at a salon and got a free haircut, but she did not say that she received a certificate.

 

[Stitchfans]

DD11 donated her hair two years ago. We went to Great Clips. I sent her hair in and several months later she recieved her certificate of thanks. She is talking about doing it again.

I would do it, but I can't handle going through the shaggy stage before it is long enough. DDs hair is cute, and never looks shaggy, but me just call me Rover.

 

[KimR]

My DD has donated her hair 3 times (for a total of 38 inches of hair!). The 2nd time she donated the salon sent in her hair and she did get a thank you certificate. You just need to be sure they send the form in along with the hair...as long as they get that form, you should receive a thank you.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

I give free haircuts to people who donate to locks of love When I send the hair in, I put the person who got their hair cut on the paperwork, that way they'll get the thank you for it. Some salons don't, they just send it in and get the thank you's. Its a wonderful thing you are doing!
www.locksoflove.org

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I wouldn't do it, personally. I've heard that not all of the hair is used for wigs for cancer victims. I've heard they sell the hair to foreign wig companies.

My next door neighbor had breast cancer and bought several wigs during her chemo, because she had no hair at all. She had one real-hair wig and a couple made of faux hair. She said the real hair one was a big PITA because of the maintenance it required. The faux ones just required brushing/styling and they were ready to go.

Besides..I find it kind of icky..the idea of wearing somebody else's hair. If and when I ever get breast cancer (which with my family history, it's almost a certainty..it's just a question of when), I'd rather wax and polish it than wear somebody else's hair!

TOV

 

[Davids-Coco]

DH actually does this all the time. (He has a ponytail and the most georgous cirly dark hair) Although he has never gotten the certificate, it is still a great cause. We always do it through our local Great Clips.

I suggest sending it in yourself to get the certificate.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

another place you could check out would be www.wigsforkids.org as well.

 

[Briarmom]

I got mine cut (not for free though) and then mailed it in myself and got the certificate. I have no idea where it is now, though....it's been several years.

 

[Dax]

I have done it twice, but have never gotten the certificate for it. I dont need it really. Just knowing I did it was enough for me.

 

[disneymom3]

Whoa! That was fast--you guys are such a wealth of information.

As for not donating because they sell the hair to foreign wig companies or because some people don't like real hair wigs, sorry but that is ridiculous. We have known two little girls with leukemia and while one of the them had no trouble pulling off the no hair look, the other was very uncomfortable with it. And, yes they do sell some of the hair that is unusable--too short, gray, etc. They say so upfront on their website.

Thanks for the link to that other site too. Unfortunately, they only do 12" and we are not going to make it. The goodwill part of this deal has worn off some and DD and I are both sick of her hair! She can't brush it herself because it is too long and I forget some days only to look in the mirror and see her messy head as we drive down the street. Ugh. I probably have enough for 12" on mine, but I am not willing to go that short.

KimR--that is awesome! Your DDs hair must grow pretty fast. Both DD and I got stuck at like 8" for awhile and were ready to give up but then it started growing again.

I think we will just cut it ourselves and send it in and then I will take her for a day at the Salon. I could care less about the thankyou myself, and she is really excited to do it just for the cause, but I thought it would be a neat keepsake as it has taken her so long. She saw an article in the paper like two years ago about this and her hair was in a bob at the time so it has been a long time coming.

Thanks for all the advice. So cool that so many of you have done this!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

My dd wanted to donate her hair last year, when she was 8. OMG, did I try not to cry when they cut off her beautiful ponytail, but she really wanted to do it after watching a show on tv about it. She didn't get an acknowledgment, but she was fine with that because she knew where the hair was going and how it would be used (She has a brother with cancer).

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Besides..I find it kind of icky..the idea of wearing somebody else's hair. If and when I ever get breast cancer (which with my family history, it's almost a certainty..it's just a question of when), I'd rather wax and polish it than wear somebody else's hair!

TOV

You should see the look on some of the kids faces when they can finally put beautiful hair back on their shiny heads - it's priceless. For children, particulary the girls, it raises their confidence and allows them to look "normal" at school and elsewhere. Having a son with leukemia myself, I've met some kids like this personally - they are thrilled to be wearing any hair at all. I think the program is wonderful and Locks of Love has a very good repuation within the cancer community.

 

[chell]

I wouldn't do it, personally. I've heard that not all of the hair is used for wigs for cancer victims. I've heard they sell the hair to foreign wig companies.

If you read their website you will see that hair that is not long enough and doesn't meet the other requirements for color and such will be sold to help them fund their project.

Their wigs are not only for cancer victims. They do it for children who have lost their hair for any medical reason.

Actually I have done this twice and love doing it. I love being able to give something to help out. Right now I do feel a little bad because I am currently keeping my hair sort. Eventually I will grow it back out again to donate.

If you want the certificate just make sure the person at the salon fills out the form. Or you could print one out and take along just to make sure.

 

[shy little mouse]

After we get back from Hawaii in October, my two DDs and I are going to chop off our hair. It was my oldest DDs idea. My DDs, 12 and 10, have never had their beautiful hair cut, and mine has been long for 13 years. I was sad about cutting their hair at first, but it is ok. It is just hair; they are healthy girls and I thank God for that. I am starting to look forward to a change for myself.

 

[chell]

If you are going to cut it yourself make sure you follow every instruction to the letter so they can use it. Congrats to your daughter and yourself for doing this.

 

[scrump]

I've done it before, and have received a nice little post card/certificate. That's great that your little girl is excited about donating!

 

[disneymom3]

After we get back from Hawaii in October, my two DDs and I are going to chop off our hair. It was my oldest DDs idea. My DDs, 12 and 10, have never had their beautiful hair cut, and mine has been long for 13 years. I was sad about cutting their hair at first, but it is ok. It is just hair; they are healthy girls and I thank God for that. I am starting to look forward to a change for myself.

That is exactly what I was thinking. In fact, I had commented to DD that her hair was so pretty it was going to be hard to see it go. Her response was "But I can grow it back, Mom. This way some other little girl can have really pretty hair too." Brings tears to my eyes just remembering that.

Stephanie--thanks for sharing your story. I think it is awesome that your DD decided to do that as she had first hand experience with this in her life. (Or i guess secondhand through her brother.)

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I have done it before. I did not get a certificate/thank you but it didn't matter to me.

 

[powellrj]

my DD who is 9 has done it 3 times. We have used a local salon and paid for the cuts, but never got a thank-you. I didn't know they sent them until I read this thread. The last time she had it done it had to be cut chin length to be long enough and she was really unhappy with the hair cut. The only saving grace was that it was helping another kid. She wants to let it just grow out for a while and have it get really, really long so it maybe a few more years before she is ready again.