ask: Donating Hair: Locks of Love vs. Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths
For so long I have been frustrated with the inability to grow my hair out. About 6 months ago I came across Pantene Pro-V's new product, Beautiful Lengths lengthening shampoo and conditioner. I figured it probably would not work but I have liked their products in the past so I bought it anyway. About 4 months after using the shampoo and conditioner my hair began to grow like a weed! Now, 6 months later my hair is 2 feet and some odd inches long.
I would love to donate my hair soon, but I am having trouble deciding between the Locks of Love and Pantene's Beautiful Length's program. I was wondering if anyone can give me some insight or advice on which to choose and why.
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While I applaud your desire to donate your hair, we're not in the business of comparing one donation program to another. Unless someone who has actually participated in such a program comes forward, I suggest you conduct some research on your own.
Personally, I would be more inclined to go with a program backed by a known name.
July 21, 2009 - 6:37pmThis Comment
I absolutely agree, and that was my concern, I had heard some rumors that Locks of Love sometimes doesn't use all of the hair that is donated to them. I want to be sure that the program I donate to will in fact use my donation and that it will help the women that are intended to be helped.
July 21, 2009 - 7:04pmYou could try contacting your local cancer treatment center to see where they get wigs for their patients, or a local beauty school. They may know of reputable organizations involved in this sort of program. Just a thought.
July 21, 2009 - 7:47pmAnnieKG. I know nothing about Pantene Pro-V's beautiful lengths program. What I do know is that Locks of Love, although a very popular, well-known name takes your hair as a donation and then sells their wigs. That, to me, is not right. Although they mention that some of their clients get wigs for free, they also mention that they
work on a sliding scale.
This is straight from their site:
Q. What do the children pay for these hairpieces?
A. We provide hairpieces and repairs free of charge or on a sliding scale based on the financial need of those
responsible for the children.
Q. What is the retail cost of the hairpieces?
A. Between $3,500 and $6,000.
Even for families with low income, they sell these wigs at around $500. Cancer patients deserve more than that, and that is why I don't recommend locks of love.
Wigs for Kids or Children with hairloss provide wigs for families at no cost.
I have attached a link to all sites so that you can compare for yourself.
http://www.wigsforkids.org/
July 22, 2009 - 6:00amhttp://www.childrenwithhairloss.us/
http://www.locksoflove.org/
http://www.beautifullengths.com/en_US/parties.jsp
thanks so much for your inciteful information!!
I had heard something about this in the past, and recently got ten inches cut off.
I am so happy I learned about this before donating my hair to them.
January 3, 2010 - 9:29amI just donated my hair today, and I went in initially with the mindset of doing locks of love but the hair dresser told me about the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program, saying Locks of Love will throw out your hair too if it doesn't use it all, while Pantene will use it all.
January 4, 2010 - 9:31ampantene does not charge for their wigs. I stopped donating to locks of love when I found out that they sell their wigs.
January 23, 2010 - 9:37amAnnie, I donated my hair to Beautiful Lengths instead of Locks of Love for these reasons. LoL states on their website that in fact, kids under 18 DO NOT get real hair wigs, they get synthetic wigs, because they outgrow them quickly and the synthetic ones are less expensive. The vast majority of LoL recipients are NOT cancer patients, they have alopecia, which while still a very valid health concern, is not what people think they are donating to. LoL is very willing to let their image be that of giving your hair to a 10 year old child who is battling cancer, and that is absolutely not what is happening. LoL will also sell your hair donation if they can't use it and use the proceeds to fund their organization. BL uses all hair donations in some way and they never sell a donation for profit. Also their wigs go to women who are cancer patients/survivors.
February 19, 2010 - 7:21pmActually, if you look at LOL's website (http://www.locksoflove.org/faq.html), only kids under the age of 6 recieve synthetic hair.
Q. What age group do you help?
A. Children under 6 years receive synthetic hairpieces because this age group experiences rapid growth in the size of their head. Children ages 6-21 with long term hair loss receive custom, vacuum-fit hair prosthetics.
Also,
Q. Does Locks of Love sell hair? Throw away hair?
A. Hair that is short, gray, or otherwise unusable will be sold to help offset manufacturing costs. Locks of Love DOES NOT throw hair away unless it is wet and moldy or not bundled in a braid or ponytail when it is received.
Please remember that LoL IS an non-profit organization and the reason they sell off some of the unused hair is to offset the manufacturing costs of the wigs while BL is backed by a huge company - Proctor and Gamble! I think both BL and LoL are wonderful places to donate hair. My 6 year old daughter just donated some to BL and I myself plan on donating to LoL. I really don't think you can go wrong either way, but that's just my opinion. and it is nice that BL accepts shorter hair than LoL.
May 4, 2010 - 6:06amI would advise anyone interested to look up the charities listing/information at the bbb - Better Business Bureau. I looked up both Wigs for Kids, and Children with Hair Loss. I was not satisfied that I should send my childrens, and my hair to. (We recently cut our hair for donation.) I could not find Pantene Beautiful Lengths, and did not look up Locks of Love, as we cut 8 inches (too short for LoL).
August 28, 2011 - 7:00pm