Everything You Need to Know About Donating Beard Hair

Do you ever find yourself staring down at all the beard hair, wondering if it can be put to good use? No. Well, maybe you should. Donating hair is an increasingly common choice for many – but one that's still largely underappreciated. 

Below we're discussing the various uses for your donated beard hair – and how you can go about sending it to a good cause.

What is donated hair used for?

Donated hair is typically used to produce wigs that help women and children with cancer, people with alopecia, and others struggling with conditions and trauma resulting in hair loss. These individuals get a chance to feel normal again, living their lives without stares from strangers or the constant reminder of what they've lost.

Traditional solutions, like synthetic wigs, are cheaper to produce. However, they struggle to mimic the look of real human hair – for women and children, that's a big problem. 

Charities like Locks of Love use donated hair – typically from the head – to produce their wigs. It takes around 10 to 15 ponytails to make a single wig. But the results are worth it. By helping individuals regain their confidence, donated hair can have an outsized impact on someone's life. 

Nor is that the only use – in one amazing story, Scott Boback donated his 20-month-old beard to the Clean Wave program. Starting in 1999, the organization produced low-tech, tube-like devices stuffed with hair – known as "hair booms." These booms are then deployed to help clean up oil spills; in fact, one pound of hair can absorb a quart of oil in a minute. 

Because hair naturally soaks up skin oils, it's perfectly adapted to capture crude oil. Beginning with hair "sausages" to clean up a number of smaller spills, the group eventually put their innovation to the test in 2007, after the Cosco Busan, a container ship, collided with a support tower in San Francisco's Bay Bridge. 

Previously, the organization has relied on collected hair clippings from salons and dog groomers, but they also accept donations (see below).

Best organizations for hair donation

Most hair donation organizations are particular about the hair they accept – so beard hair may not be required. You'll need to check out their specific requirements to see if your beard is applicable (but if not, you can still donate your head hair!).

• Locks of Love. Founded in 1997, Locks of Love have produced hundreds of wigs for children each year. Where most wigs are too large or not in children's style, Locks of Love is dedicated to ensuring every child is comfortable in their own skin. 
• Wigs for Kids. Since 1981, Wigs for Kids has focused on creating wigs that can stand up to "typical kid activities." Created by Jeffery Paul and his wife, it's an inspirational organization that changes lives. 
• Hair We Share. Dedicated to helping children under 18 and adults facing financial difficulties, Hair We Share produces wigs for people with medical conditions or chemo-related hair loss. Their "donation salons" are dotted across the US – check out their site for more information.
• Children With Hair Loss. Operating since 2000, Children With Hair Loss gives real hair wigs to children and young adults struggling with medical-related hair loss. In 2019 alone, they donated 608 wigs to children across the nation.

Beard hair isn't ideal for donation for wigs. However, as mentioned, there is an organization that can put it to good work: the Clean Wave program. Using the donated hair – of all types and shapes – they produce hair booms and also felted mats designed to "soak up petrochemicals in storm drains, wells, filtration systems, rivers, and oceans."

To donate your hair, all you need to do is follow two steps:

1. Sign up. You'll need to sign up on their website due to the large volume of donations they receive. Find out more here.
2. Donate. After signing up, you'll receive instructions on lengths, packaging, and how to mail the hair to the organization. 

For more information about the program and to see its incredible results, see their website.  

Final thoughts

Don't throw your hair away! Donate it. If you've undergone (or are planning to undergo) a significant trim, consider giving your hair to a good cause. That could be a wig charity or an organization like the Clean Wave program.

Through donated beard hair, you can have a real impact on lives and ecosystems around the world. See the organization's website for information about how to donate.

Share your donation stories with us on social media! We can't wait to hear them.