CANSA Hair Donations – FAQs
Who cuts & prepares hair for donation?
Can my hair be cut at a CANSA Care Centre?
It is best if you cut your hair at your local hairdresser or at home.
Is a specific hairdresser recommended by CANSA Care Centres?
No, please contact your local hairdresser – put your hair in a ponytail and let them cut for you. They can then style your short hair – referrals are not provided by CANSA Care Centres.
Are hairdressers on standby at Shavathon events to cut ponytail & style hair?
No, only volunteers who will remove your ponytail. You need to make an appointment with a hairdresser to arrange for styling of short hair.
How do I prepare my hair for donation?
Must I plait my hair before donating it?
This is not necessary – tie in a ponytail with an elastic covered in fabric, cut ponytail above elastic and secure bottom of ponytail with another elastic covered in fabric.
NB – please use an elastic which is covered in fabric, as elastics which are not covered perish and get tangled in hair, which in turn can’t be used by the wigmaker.
Do I have to shave my head when donating hair?
No, you tie your hair in a ponytail, which is then removed. Your hair will be shorter, but it is not necessary to shave your head.
Requirements – Human Hair Donations:
- Ponytail donation that is 25 cm or longer. Shorter hair (not shorter than 15 cm) may be used as a filler.
- Hair should be clean and dry.
- When cutting the hair, please bind both ends with an elastic band, covered with fabric, and place in a zip-lock plastic bag (this preserves it in the best condition while being transported to the wigmaker).
- Send your hair donation in a zip-lock plastic bag with your name and contact details on it.
Is my hair type and length acceptable?
Can I donate my type of hair?
CANSA welcomes all kinds of hair for donation and wigs cater to the needs of all ethnic groups. Grey, treated or dyed hair is also acceptable.
Can dyed, bleached or highlighted hair be donated?
Yes, dyed, bleached or highlighted hair is acceptable, as long as it is in good condition. Clean hair, free from chemical treatments is preferred, as this produces a higher quality of wig.
Hey, my hair is naturally curly and I was wondering should I donate it curly or straight?
You can donate curly or straight hair, as long as your ponytail donation is preferrably 25 cm in length. Shorter hair (not shorter than 15 cm) is also acceptable as it can be used as filler-hair.
My hair is shorter than 25 cm – I really would like to donate as soon as possible, but if it is too short I can wait to let it grow.
Although it is preferred that the ponytail be 25 cm or longer, shorter hair (not shorter than 15 cm) is also acceptable as it can be used as filler-hair.
Must donated hair be one length or can it be layered?
One length is easier for our wigmaker to work with.
I have curly hair, but when I straighten it, it is longer and will meet required length of 25 cm – must I straighten if before making my hair donation?
Straighten your hair so that it meets the required length – be sure to bind both ends of the ponytail with an elastic band covered in fabric.
My hair is about 60 cm long and I am planning to shave it all. However I have been told that only 25 cm will be used and the rest of the hair will go to waste. Should I only cut one 25 cm ponytail? Or will the entire 60cm be used to make a wig?
Hair must preferably be 25 cm OR LONGER, so the 60 cm ponytail will be very welcome – just be sure to tie the top with an elastic band, covered in fabric, as well as the middle and bottom, to keep the hair from getting damaged.
Shorter hair (not shorter than 15 cm) is also acceptable as it can be used as filler-hair.
When can I donate my hair?
All year round at your local CANSA Care Centre or CANSA Head Office. When enough hair donations have been collected at a particular Care Centre, they are sent to CANSA’s Head Office, and from there to our wigmaker.
Hair donations may also be made at Shavathon events. Enquire at your local CANSA Care Centre to confirm event dates.
How long does hair keep?
My hair donation has been in a plastic ziplock bag for a month – can I still donate it?
Yes, as long as the bag is airtight and the hair has been kept dry – hair does not age.
How do I get my hair donation to CANSA?
Where do I drop my hair donation?
You can drop it at your local CANSA Care Centre.
I can’t drop my hair donation off – how do I get my hair donation to CANSA?
You can post your hair donation CANSA Head Office, Hair Donations, P.O. Box 2121, Bedfordview 2008 or courier it.
I would like to donate my ponytail, however I’m out of the country. How do I get my hair donation to CANSA?
You can post it to CANSA Head Office, Hair Donations, P.O. Box 2121, Bedfordview 2008, South Africa or courier it.
When posting my hair donation, do I have to do so via registered mail?
Unless you wish to track your hair donation’s progress, this is not necessary.
How do I package my hair donation for posting?
- Hair should be clean and dry.
- When cutting the hair, please bind both ends with an elastic band, covered with fabric, and place in a zip-lock bag (this preserves it in the best condition while being transported to the wigmaker).
- Place your hair donation in a zip-lock plastic bag with your name and contact details on it.
- Place the plastic bag with your hair donation in a suitable envelope.
Will the hair from shaved heads at Shavathon be used to make wigs?
Yes, if it meets the required length of 25 cm – pieces that are shorter (not shorter than 15 cm) can be used as hair fillers too. The hair is then delivered to our wigmaker to make wigs for cancer Survivors.
Wigs
CANSA runs the “Kindest Cut Campaign” – where the donated hair is turned into affordable wigs for cancer survivors in need, via our CANSA Care Centres across the country.
What kind of wigs are stocked at CANSA Care Centres?
There are synthetic wigs and human hair wigs at most of our CANSA Care Centres. The availability, styles and colours vary at each CANSA Care Centre.
If a CANSA Care Centre does not have stock, it can be requested from our Head Office.
What is the difference between synthetic and human hair wigs?
Synthetic wigs are made from “fake” hair, while human hair wigs are made from human hair donations we receive from the public.
What is the cost of wig hire through CANSA?
- purchase price synthetic wig: R350
- donation towards human hair wig: R350* – this does not include courier fees to clients
*when human hair donations are received, CANSA sends the hair to our dedicated wigmakers who make wigs and return them to CANSA. Your donation enables CANSA to make this possible.
*patient’s income is taken into consideration
Where can I purchase human hair wigs?
At our CANSA Care Centres for a minimum donation of R350 – more may be donated if desired.
How much do human hair wigs cost at retailers?
They usually start from around R2 000 at retailers. Human hair wigs are expensive as hair is a natural resource and takes time to grow. Two to three heads of hair are used to create one wig.
I have made a hair donation – would I be able to see the wig it was used for?
Unfortunately, as many donors’ hair donations are used to make one wig, this will not be possible. Up to two to three heads of hair may be used to make one wig.
I would like to donate my hair for a wig – but would like the option to obtain the wig myself for family member – how can I proceed?
Several hair donors’ hair donations may be required to have enough to make a wig. So your hair may not be enough. However, our wigmaker can try to put your hair in a position on the wig so that your loved one can see it. This may involve an extra cost charged by the wigmaker.
Contact Athena Neate email: aneate@cansa.org.za and she will put you in touch with our wigmaker to obtain a direct quote.
The wig making process can take between 8 and 12 weeks.
Does CANSA provide wigs to people who are not cancer Survivors, but have a different condition resulting in hair loss?
We prefer to provide it to cancer patients, but do help other people in need.
What is the process involved in making a wig?
