Angel Hair Association — Hair Donation Guidelines
Thank you for considering donating your hair to support children experiencing medical hair loss. Hair donation is a meaningful gift that brings confidence and comfort to kids who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment, alopecia, burns, or other medical causes. To ensure your donation can be used to make a high-quality wig, please follow these guidelines carefully.
1. Minimum Hair Length
- Hair must be at least 12 inches (31.5 cm) in length from root to tip to be used for a child’s wig.
- Although 12 inches is the minimum, 14 inches or more is strongly encouraged — longer hair makes a bigger and more flexible wig.
- For curly hair, be sure to stretch the hair straight to measure accurately before cutting.
2. Hair Condition
- Hair must be clean and completely dry before cutting and donation.
- Wet hair can mold in transit and will not be accepted.
- Hair must be free of chemical treatments such as dyes, highlights, or perms.
- Natural color and highlights that wash out are acceptable if fully washed out before cutting.
3. Preparing Your Hair for Donation
To make the most of your donation and ensure maximum usable length:
Best Practice:
- Divide your hair into multiple small ponytails or braids instead of a single large one.
- Smaller ponytails help preserve length and keep hair aligned.
- Secure each ponytail or braid with tight elastic bands spaced a few inches apart.
- Hair that is loosely tied can fall out of the band during shipping and may become unusable.
- Cut the hair just above the first rubber band so the strands remain bundled together.
4. Packaging Your Hair
Once your hair is cut:
- Place all dry ponytails or braids into a sealed plastic bag (e.g., Ziploc).
- Include your Hair Donation Form with your name and contact information.
- (If you are part of AHA’s program, include your AHA donor ID.)
- Place the sealed bag and form into a padded envelope for shipment.
5. Where to Send Your Hair
Mail your sealed donation to one of the organizations that accept hair donation listed below. AHA does not accept hair donation directly.
6. Tips for Growing and Preparing
- Start measuring and planning early — healthy hair growth takes time.
- Regular trims while growing can help remove split ends and promote longer, healthier hair for donation.
- Keep your hair as undamaged and healthy as possible, avoiding heavy styling products right before cutting.
Your Donation Changes Lives
Your donated hair helps create a wig that can make a child feel more like themselves again — and that confidence can make a powerful difference in their healing journey. Thank you for sharing your time, care, and beautiful hair with those who need it most.
Ready to donate? Start by registering with Angel Hair Association and we’ll support your hair-growing journey every step of the way.
Quick Donation Checklist
✔ Hair is 12″ or longer (14″+ recommended)
✔ Hair is clean and completely dry
✔ Hair is free of permanent chemical treatment
✔ Hair is tied into multiple secure ponytails/braids
✔ Hair is cut above the rubber bands
✔ Hair is placed in a sealed bag and mailed with your form