Not All Donated Hair Really Goes To Sick Children

(CBS) BOSTON Donating hair to help sick children certainly sounds like a good cause, but not all of the hair collected actually goes to those young patients.

Every year thousands of people donate their hair thinking it's going directly to a young child. But if the hair doesn't meet specific requirements, it usually gets sold to a commercial company. Although those sales help cover administrative costs for the organizations, most donors aren't aware that's how their locks are being used.

Tricia Apruzzese's short new hair cut is more than fashion statement. She cut off 15 inches and donated it to Locks of Love, an organization that makes hair pieces for those in need.

"I wanted to do it to help others," Tricia said.

There are several charities, all with different guidelines. Tricia did her homework.

"If I didn't know beforehand, I would've been upset to know that my hair wasn't used after I went through the process."

Be sure to check whether colored or permed hair can be used. Some charities are stricter than others. Bleached hair is not an option

"The manufacturer puts it through this process which basically strips hair down to its natural color and if it's been heavily chemically damaged over years, the hair will fall apart at that point," explained Madonna Coffman of Locks of Love.

Hair must be clean and long enough, usually between 8-12 inches. Before you cut it, put it in a ponytail or braid, to show which way the hair grows.

"If it's implanted upside down in the prosthesis, it will mat and tangle," Coffman said.

Send hair in a plastic bag, but be sure it's dry first. Coffman says it you follow the guidelines you can really help someone in need.

"Based on the thank you cards and the photographs that we get from kids, it means everything to them."

Locks of Love estimates that 80 percent of their donors are actually kids who want to help other kids.


cbs11tv.com - Not All Donated Hair Really Goes To Sick Children

Quit your bitching. Did you read the part where it says, "if the hair doesn't meet specific requirements, it usually gets sold to a commercial company. Although those sales help cover administrative costs for the organizations..."? Your fried hair that's ruined from too many bottles of Madonna-wannabe-platinum blond color will still do the charity some good. Just because you won't see a sick kid walking around with your frizzball hair, doesn't mean it didn't help that child out in some way or another. Shut the hell up!