All right! After researching and procrastinating, I’m finally making the commitment and chopping the majority of my hair off to donate to a good cause! Who’s with me?!?! I have one friend already committing to go with me and have her’s chopped off the same day and time as me, so it should be fun and that will be two donations just like that! My friend and I most likely will go to our local JCPenney’s (normally we are cheap-o when it comes to hair cuts, but this is a lot of hair being cut off so we want to go somewhere with super experienced staff. My boss trusts his locks to them, so I figure I can too.)
The planned chop date is Saturday, September 19th, time TBD.
After looking at the various donation places, I have decided on Pantene Beautiful Lengths because they don’t make patients purchase the wigs, only 8″ AND they accept hair with gray in it (but it must be less than 5% of all your hair color). The close second was Wigs for Kids, but they require longer hair and no gray hair is accepted). Both appear to be very good charities though, much better than the Locks of Love organization (who make many patients pay). Pantene has donated over 42,000 FREE wigs to women battling cancer. I know when my grandmother was going through chemo treatments, losing her hair was one of the hardest things for her to face. I’ll never forget the day I was in her bathroom with her as she was trying to style a wig she had received and she whipped it off to show me her lack of hair. She was heartbroken, humiliated and the wigs were the only thing keeping her going out in public. I’d like to help women be strong in their fight for their lives!
So, let’s do this! WHO IS WITH ME?!?! On Saturday, September 19th, let’s all go have our hair chopped off together and share via photos, videos and posts! Grab your friends, take lots of photos and post them on my blog and FB page! Share your videos! Let’s make a difference together!
Here are some of the requirements to donate your hair to Pantene per their website:
Here’s why bleached, permanently colored or gray hair is restricted:
It takes at least 8 to 15 ponytails to make a Pantene Beautiful Lengths wig, and each one comes from a different person with a different shade of hair. For a realistic-looking wig that has consistent color, all these ponytails must be processed and then dyed the same shade. It is critical for each ponytail to absorb dyes at the same rate in order to create a wig that is one natural-looking color. Gray hair and some chemically treated or permanently colored hair does not absorb dye at the same rate as other types of hair. It is much harder to color and, once colored, fades more quickly.
Preparing Your Hair: DO
Use a conditioner after every wash to help keep hair moisturized and protected against damage.
Use a spray, leave-in conditioner for extra protection when using heated hair appliances.
Look for new technology in your drying and styling tools to help minimize damage.
Avoid excessive teasing of hair, as it can uplift cuticles, making them fragile and susceptible to breakage.
Use deep-conditioning treatments once a week, or as often as needed, to help minimize split ends and keep hair in top condition.
Preparing Your Hair: DON’T
Use a brush on wet hair when you step out of the shower; once hair is washed and conditioned, use a comb with smooth, wide-set teeth to gently detangle hair, working from tip to root.
Attempt to blow-dry soaking wet hair immediately; to expedite your blow-out process and help prevent thermal damage, towel-wrap your hair for 10-15 minutes and remove excess water before using a blow-dryer.
Overbrush hair; despite the common myth that 100 strokes a day are good for hair, this can lead to breakage. Regular, gentle brushing promotes hair health and natural oil distribution.
Wait more than eight weeks to get hair trimmed; regular salon visits are essential to keeping hair healthy and beautiful.
Are you ready to do this?!?! Who’s in!?
