Donating My Hair to Wigs for Kids BC

I have wanted to donate my hair for a very long time to an organization that makes wigs for those who have lost their hair from cancer. I do not have a problem with cutting my hair, but I am one of those people who likes to keep their hair short, so the thought of growing it way past my shoulders just made me shudder at the idea. I have dealt with anxiety all my life and when I am not feeling really good, I tend to pull at my hair, especially if it is in my way. So I prefer short hair because of that and also because it is quick to wash, dry and style. If you have thick hair like me, you will also understand how long it takes to dry! 

The organization I chose to donate my hair to is Wigs For Kids BC. The program is based out of BC Children's Hospital and they focus on not only raising money for human hair wigs, but also essential drugs and feeding supplies for children with cancer or other serious illnesses. Unlike synthetic hair wigs, human hair wigs look real and are far more comfortable to wear. Wigs For Kids BC partners with local Vancouver wig makers to make the custom wigs for eligible children. 

I started letting my hair grow out about a year ago and holy moly did it ever grow. Last month I went down to LA and Disneyland and I really did not want to have long hair in that warm muggy weather, so it was time to finally chop it off. I really did not think it was going to be long enough, but it was! It was pretty funny when my stylist tried to cut my hair because it was so darn thick the razor struggled to get through the braid. I ended up with four bundles of my braided hair that measured 9 inches long. Unbraided I bet it would be 10.5 inches! 

There is some criteria that you need to meet in order for your hair donation to be acceptable. Your hair must be a minimum of 8 inches long from the elastic band. It must be bound tightly in a pony tail, but braids are totally fine too! Ideally the hair should be virgin - untreated, uncoloured - but highlights to a certain extent is now acceptable. 

Its takes 10 to 15 hair bundles to make a single custom wig for a child. The wigs are custom fit to ensure a proper fit and the most natural look. Not to mention the wigs average between $1,000 to $3,000 which is extremely steep and tough for many families to afford. 

I am really glad I did this and hope to donate again in the future. Thank you for all the sweet comments and love on Instagram, but frankly, it is the children who undergo treatment for cancer that are truly the brave ones. Hoping the wig that is made from my hair makes a child truly happy. 

BYES

The ends of the braids are so soft! No wonder so many makeup brushes are made from human hair.