For women and children, the disfigurement caused by hair loss from chemotherapy can be as emotionally shattering as a diagnosis of cancer itself. In most cultures, much of a woman's sense of identity and self-esteem is invested in the appearance of her hair, and children everywhere dread being teased, stared at, and isolated from their peers by anything that makes them look different. In Canada, several charities welcome donations of human hair to be made into hand-sewn wigs and distributed free of charge by the Canadian Cancer Society to women and children with medical hair loss.
Instructions
Making the Cut for Cancer Patients
1. Find out if your hair qualifies. All charities will appreciate the generosity of your intentions, but hair to be made into medical wigs must meet several criteria "See Resources." In general, the ponytail length must be 8-10 inches. Curly hair is fine but should be pulled out straight for measurement. Some programs won't accept hair that has been chemically treated (colored, bleached or permed), while others will, as long as the hair is in good condition. Only the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program, which makes wigs for adult women only, accepts hair with some gray in it (but no more than 5%).
2. Shampoo and dry your hair. Whether you or your hairstylist does this, the donated hair must be clean and dry. Don't use any styling products, not even conditioner.
3. Brush your hair back into a ponytail secured at both ends by an elastic band. Some programs also accept and even prefer braids. On average, 12 units of hair are needed to make a medical wig.
4. Get your helper or stylist to cut your hair just above the ponytail elastic. Don't allow the ponytail to fall on the floor--hair that has made contact with the floor is considered unacceptable for donation.
5. Enclose the ponytail in a clean plastic bag. This protects the hair against the coming into contact with dirt or moisture as it travels through the postal system.
6. Drop the plastic bag into an addressed envelope, seal it, and send it by regular mail to the hair donation program of your choice. Be sure to include your name and address so an acknowledgment can be sent.
Tags: your hair, Canadian Cancer, Cancer Patients, contact with, hair loss, hair made
