This article is about where to donate your wigs.
Whether you have outgrown a terrible haircut, finally gotten your natural hair to a good length, or bravely overcome a terrible disease, sometimes you find yourself with more wigs than you need.
So what do you do with them? Well, like most good-hearted humans, you naturally want to donate wigs to organizations that support adults and children going through hair loss. But you may be finding it challenging to find one.
Don’t you worry. I’m Bianca, a wig wearing, hair-piece enthusiast, and I’m here to take the hard work out of charity by doing all the heavy lifting and internet scouring on your behalf.
Ready to start sleuthing? Let’s get started!
How To Donate a Wig?
Let’s be clear. A wig is very personal, and there is a certain intimacy about it – wigs cover up your secrets after all. So donating them is no light undertaking.
First, you need to make sure the wig is only gently used and is in good condition. Clean your wig or wigs to the best of your ability and make sure they look their best.
The next step is to go on to the wig donation center’s website and send fill out a form, which must be printed and included with the wig. The wig should also be wrapped and bubble wrapped securely.
In America, you usually include a $20 donation to help cover the costs of sorting, cleaning, and delivering your wig to its future owner.
This is a tax-deductible donation! So don’t forget your tax receipt.
American Organizations
Here are the US-based organizations accepting wig donations.
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society supports people fighting cancer with free wigs to help them maintain their self-confidence when going through hair loss.
They have a website set up, making it very easy to donate. Follow the link and add your search terms and locations. This will then direct you to the closest location to send your donation too.
EBeauty
Another American organization that supports cancer patients with free wigs is EBeauty.
Donating a wig to EBeauty is quite a simple process. Just head over to their website, fill out and print a form, include your donation and email address for a tax receipt and send!
CancerCare
CancerCare is an organization that offers free support and assistance to patients fighting this disease.
Not only do they offer financial support and advice, but they also provide free breast prosthetics and wigs to cancer patients.
Head to their website for the closest donation location to you.
Lolly’s Locks
This wonderful organization provides high-quality stylized wigs to people who could not usually afford them.
They are also the only organization to customize the wigs. To support this wonderful charity with your donation, head over to their website here.
Wigs and Wishes
Wigs and Wishes is less of an organization as such but is rather a network of salons that provide wigs to women and children facing hair loss due to cancer. Not only do they provide the wig, but they style the wig to the new owner and educate them on how to wear, take care and feel in control of their appearance again.
The best way to support this movement is to find a participating salon close to you and send your wig there.
Thomas and Linda McCormack Foundation
This organization is specifically set up to support people in Panama. So they respectfully ask only to receive wigs that are dark brown or black in color.
To mail your wig to them, please send your donation here:
Thomas and Linda McCormack Foundation
115 Reesman Drive
Aliquippa, PA 15001
724-495-6310
Life with Cancer
Life with cancer is a localized charity that supports women in the Washington area with both wigs, and collapsible wig stands.
To support this charity, then please send your wig here:
Life with Cancer
8411 Pennell Street
Fairfax, VA 22031
703-776-2820
The Gathering Place
The Gathering Place is an organization that supports women in Northeast Ohio. Their focus is synthetic wigs, and they do not accept or offer human hair wigs.
If you have synthetic wigs and would like to support them, then please send your wigs here:
The Gathering Place
c/o Eileen Coan
The Gathering Place
23300 Commerce Park
Beachwood, Ohio 44122
216-595-9546
British Organizations
There are two organizations based in UK accepting wig donations.
The Wig Bank
Founder Elizabeth set up the Wig Bank to honor her sister Agnes, who lost her battle to cancer several years ago.
There are various supporting Wig Bank sites across the UK who will gladly accept wig donations. The sites will disinfect and clean up your wig and sell it for a small fee of £20, with £5 going towards a cancer charity of their seller’s choice.
To find your closest Wig Bank, go here.
Hospices of Hope
Hospices of Hope is a British organization that supports European country partners such as Romania, Moldova, and Albania with a huge variety of medical supplies.
These medical supplies include wigs, breast prostheses, stoma bags, and much more.
To support this charity with your wig donation, click here.
Australia
This is a Australia based organization accepting wig donations.
CancerVic
CancerVic is a Melbourne-based wig loan service that supports cancer fighters with synthetic wigs, headscarves, beanies, and cotton caps.
If you are in Australia and would like to support this great cause with your synthetic wigs, please send your wigs here (and include an email address so that they can acknowledge receipt):
Wig Service
Cancer Council Victoria
615 St Kilda Road Melbourne
VIC 3004
FAQs
Here are some quick answers relating to where to donate wigs.
What can I do with unwanted wigs?
You can donate your unwanted wigs to your local cancer support group or cancer center.
Very often, you can find information about donating your wigs in a hospital or health care facility.
However, try to wash, dry, and bag your wig properly before donating it.
Is hair donation tax-deductible?
Most of the time, donating your hair itself isn’t tax-deductible. However, you can claim a charitable contribution deduction for the related out-of-pocket expenses.
Suppose you are sending payment to support one of the tax-exempt organizations that help people who need a wig because of a medical condition. In that case, usually, the payment you sent is tax-deductible.
Wrapping Up
Coming through a stage in your life where you were reliant on something like a wig or prosthetic, and reaching a stage when you have moved beyond that, is a feeling like no other.
Strength, growth, and empowerment don’t even begin to describe it.
What is even more empowering is being able to use those things that helped you and pay it forward to help people who are currently in a place where you were.
Donating wigs to support others in their journey is a noble pursuit, and I hope that I have helped you in your quest to spread the love.
Have you found a wig donation center that I missed?
Have any tips or tricks for others that are trying to donate their wigs?
Let me know in the comments below!