Please, please, please!

Far too many people today are touched by illness. Severe illness. Specifically, the illness of cancer. Like many people my family has personally been touched by cancer as well. And there’s a lot I could say on the matter. But I’ll save some of that for another time. For now, I just want to make one plea:

Don’t waste your hair.

There. I said it.

In case you don’t know (and if that’s the case where have you been?), one of the side effects of chemo is oftentimes hair loss. Sometimes it’s minimal, sometimes it isn’t. A lot of times it isn’t.

And maybe it doesn’t seem like a big deal. It’s just hair, right? That is so very easy to say until it’s gone. Just try and imagine for a minute looking in the mirror at a bald head. Or maybe not completely bald, but very, very thin hair. Uncomfortable, right?

But the good news is, we have the ability to create wigs. Wigs today are AMAZING. You wouldn’t believe how natural they look. Done right, you seriously can’t tell the difference between one’s “original” hair, and a wig. Seriously.

But to make a wig (a wig of real hair anyways) companies/organizations need approximately 6-10 ponytails, depending on the length. How do these companies/organizations get the ponytails? They rely mostly (if not 100%) on donations. It doesn’t take much – a lot of places only require a ponytail 10″ in length. And it doesn’t even cost a thing. Really. Most hairdressers will mail your ponytail in at no extra charge. Or you can mail it in yourself for no, or minimal, cost.

So what’s my point? Why the informative although slightly disjointed post? Am I asking you to spend the next year of your life growing out your hair in order to donate it because Heaven knows we need more hair donations and if you don’t donate your hair you are a terrible person? No, not exactly. My point is this:

If you have longer hair, and are ready for a change (and lets face it, who doesn’t at some point?) please, please, please don’t just throw away your hair. Please consider donating it. It’s such a simple process, and you will truly bless someone, child or adult. I know of far too many people who chop off their hair and never give it a second thought. Whether you go to a salon or do it yourself, please, don’t waste your hair.

I know a lot of people who thank you.