Not really H&F: Hair Donation?

[thom]

My hair is getting long, like really long, for me. I wear stocking hats virtually all winter anyway so I'm thinking of cutting it off sometime this fall. I'm sure it will be at least 8 inches, so I would like to donate it instead of just watch it be swept into the trash. (It's not been colored for 3+ years, not treated, and I use heat to dry or style maybe once a month.) It's healthy hair.

Any experience with best charities to give to? Did your salon give you a discount when you donated?

And the H&F part... If you've cut off a lot of hair did it drive you crazy to barely get it in a pony when working out? I'm hoping not to go shorter than chin length.

[pixy0stix]

I donate to beautiful lengths - www.pantene.com/en-US/PanteneBeautifulLengths/Pages/default.aspx

In the 10 years I've been doing it, I've never gotten a discount.

Yes, it drives me bonkers when it's short. I tend to use a lot of barrettes to keep it back.

[thom]

Thanks ladies, I appreciate your stories. I've not heard of the Pantene charity, so I will look into it. @vtcupcake - you are SO right that hair grows back. That's why I've decided I should donate even if it means cutting off more than I maybe want to. I'm sure it meant a lot to your mom that you gave up your hair along with her.

[wambam]

I did the Pantene one after my wedding, 13 inches.

[dmxm]

Good for you! Such a great gesture! I've done the Pantene one and Locks for Love. I prefer Pantene only because I've heard that Locks for Love just gets inundated with hair (especially from kids) and can't use a lot of it.

[MrsE]

I have donated to locks of love in the past. You have to donate at least 10 inches though.

[blndsnbrdr]

I donate 8-10 inches every 2 years or so. Usually I donate with Locks of Love but I have heard of the Pantene option. I think Pantene lets you donate less (6 inche?) while LoL requires more (8 inches). It helps me deal with the growing out process, knowing that I'm doing it for a good reason.

Sometimes salons will run promos with hair donations but you'd probably have to hunt them down. I did have a small town salon comp the hair cut for donating so you might be in luck there

Only advice...remember they chop off a lot more in the styling process. For example, if you donate 8 inches you'll end up losing 10+ inches once they even it out.

[rfs13]

I did this back in March and went from super long to a pixie cut. I donated to Locks of Love and I think they required like 10 inches (but I could be wrong).
For working out I just wear baseball caps now....which was a huge adjustment for me. There's nothing like getting ready in the morning in 20 minutes or less now! It used to take over 20 just to blow dry my hair!

[libbygrl109]

I think what you're doing is so great! I've never donated before, so I can't speak to that. I do have a really sorry cut, though. It's along the lines of a pixie with long bangs. I use Bobby pins, Bondi bands and Sweatybands to keep it off my face.