Donate Your Locks to Locks of Love

The Rye YMCA has been hosting Livestrong Week, a time to celebrate cancer survivors, since Sunday. The event culminates on Oct. 7 with a Locks of Love hair donation event at Milano's Hair Salon at 33 Purchase St. from 12-4 p.m.

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

It is getting cold out and long hair gets tangled in scarves, thick jackets and hats. Not to mention what static does to luscious locks. Why not just get them out of the way, and support a good cause?

Consider donating ten inches of your hair if you fit the guidelines below: 

PONYTAILS & BRAIDS ONLY    

10" or longer, in a ponytail or braid, clean and dry    

Guidelines for acceptable donations:  Anyone can cut your hair as long as the guidelines listed below are followed.  We encourage all of our donors to go to a salon they are already familiar with to ensure their comfort when donating. If you are not sure if your hair falls within our guidelines or have question  about any products you have used, please consult your stylist or the  manufacturer of your product.  Hair that is colored or permed is acceptable.   Hair cut years ago is usable if it has been stored in a ponytail or braid.   Layered hair is acceptable if the longest layer is 10 inches, and may be divided into multiple ponytails.   

Curly hair may be pulled straight to measure the minimum 10 inches.   10 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length needed for a hairpiece.   Hair that has been bleached (usually this refers to highlighted hair) is not usable.  If unsure, ask your stylist.   

We are not able to accept bleached hair due to a chemical reaction that occurs during the manufacturing process. Hair that is swept off of the floor is not usable because it has not been cut while bundled in a ponytail or braid.   Hair that is shaved off and not in a ponytail or braid is not usable. You may divide your hair into multiple ponytails, and cut each one off before continuing to shave.  We cannot accept dreadlocks, wigs, falls, hair extensions or synthetic hair.  Our manufacturer is not able to use them in our children’s hairpieces.  

Special Notes:   Shorter hair (6”-10”) will be separated from the 10” and longer lengths and sold to offset the manufacturing  costs.  Although the shorter hair cannot be used in the hairpieces, it still greatly helps to reduce costs. Gray hair will be accepted and sold to offset the manufacturing costs.  Colored hair is not usable if it is colored over bleached hair.