Hair We Share's Inspiring Mission Showcased on News 12 Long Island
WATCH THE FULL NEWS 12 COVERAGE HERE
News 12 Long Island viewers were treated to an extraordinary story of compassion this week as reporter Billy Draffin took cameras inside the workshop of Hair We Share. The special feature, which aired as part of the network's community spotlight series and can be viewed at longisland.news12.com, captured the heart of this remarkable nonprofit's mission. In the bright lights of the News 12 cameras, something profound unfolded—a story not just about hair, but about hope. The segment focused on a wig being gently shaped by loving hands, each strand representing a journey from donor to recipient, each weave a testament to human kindness.
News 12's Exclusive Look: The Gift of Confidence
As highlighted in the News 12 Long Island video feature (available at https://longisland.news12.com/hair-we-share-volunteers-help-create-wigs-for-those-with-medical-hair-loss), "When someone loses their hair, they lose more than just their appearance—they lose a piece of their identity," explains Suzanne Chimera, co-founder of Hair We Share, her voice steady but filled with emotion during her on-camera interview. "What we're giving back isn't just hair—it's confidence, normalcy, and the ability to face the world on their own terms."
The News 12 Long Island feature, which ran for nearly five minutes in primetime, provided unprecedented visibility for the organization's mission. Throughout the broadcast, viewers were encouraged to visit the News 12 website to watch the complete segment and find more information about getting involved.
Based in Jericho, New York, Hair We Share has transformed the landscape of medical hair loss support. Unlike commercial alternatives that can cost thousands of dollars, their custom-made, human-hair wigs are provided completely free of charge to recipients across the nation—from young children battling cancer to adults navigating autoimmune conditions.
Behind the News 12 Cameras: Craftsmanship With Heart
The News 12 segment, which has already garnered over 10,000 views online at longisland.news12.com, provides viewers with unprecedented access to Hair We Share's workshop. As Draffin's camera pans across the space, viewers witness the meticulous craftsmanship behind each wig. Volunteers carefully sort through donated ponytails, selecting strands that will complement each other perfectly. Master wig makers thread each hair individually through a custom-sized cap, a painstaking process that can take up to 40 hours per wig.
"Every wig is as unique as the person who will wear it," notes Dean Riskin, co-founder, while demonstrating how they match hair color, texture, and density to the recipient's specifications. "We don't just make wigs—we create second chances."
The segment captures a 14-year-old recipient trying on her completed wig for the first time. Her eyes widen, her hand reflexively reaching up to touch what looks exactly like her hair before chemotherapy. "I look like... me again," she whispers, as her mother breaks into tears behind her.
The Journey of a Strand
What makes Hair We Share particularly special is their innovative Ponytail Tracking Program. For a $150 donation, hair donors can follow their ponytail's transformation journey.
"People are naturally curious about where their hair goes," Chimera explains. "Our tracking program lets donors connect with their contribution in a meaningful way."
Participants receive regular updates as their donation moves through the wig-making process, along with a certificate commemorating their gift and an "I Made the Cut" t-shirt that many donors wear with pride. Some even develop ongoing relationships with recipients, creating connections that transcend the physical donation.
United Salons of America: A Network of Compassion
Recognizing that salons represent the front line in hair donation, Hair We Share recently launched their United Salons of America initiative—an ambitious nationwide network that transforms everyday haircuts into acts of profound generosity.
"Stylists are in a unique position to educate clients about donation," says Riskin. "When someone's considering a major cut, that's the perfect moment to suggest giving those inches to someone who needs them desperately."
The program offers participating salons customized marketing materials, special training for stylists on proper donation techniques, and community recognition. Some partner salons host "cut-a-thons," where an entire day's proceeds go toward funding wig creation. Others provide free styling services to wig recipients, helping them learn to care for and style their new hair.
The Mathematics of Compassion
The numbers behind Hair We Share's work are staggering. Each complete wig requires donations from 8-12 different people and costs approximately $1,800 to produce when accounting for specialized materials and skilled labor. Yet through careful resource management and volunteer support, the organization delivers these life-changing wigs without charging recipients a penny.
Since its founding in 2014, Hair We Share has:
Collected over 30,000 ponytail donations
Created more than 2,000 human hair wigs
Established partnerships with 150+ salons nationwide
Supported recipients in all 50 states
Beyond Hair: The Emotional Journey
The News 12 feature delves deeper than just the physical process, exploring the profound emotional impact of hair loss and restoration. One segment follows Maria, a 42-year-old teacher diagnosed with alopecia universalis, who received a Hair We Share wig last year.
"I stopped going out. I stopped dating. I even considered leaving my job," Maria reveals. "The day I put on my wig, I literally felt like I could breathe again. It sounds dramatic, but it was like getting my life back."
The organization also offers support groups and connects recipients with others facing similar challenges, addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of medical hair loss that often go unaddressed in clinical settings.
How You Can Make a Difference
As the News 12 segment (viewable at https://longisland.news12.com/hair-we-share-volunteers-help-create-wigs-for-those-with-medical-hair-loss) concludes, reporter Billy Draffin speaks directly to viewers, encouraging community involvement. "This is an organization that truly makes a difference right here on Long Island," Draffin emphasizes on camera. He then outlines the multiple ways News 12 viewers can contribute to this circle of giving:
Donate Hair: Ponytails of at least 12 inches, or 8 inches with participation in the tracking program, are eagerly accepted. Hair can be colored but must be healthy and clean.
Give Financially: Every dollar helps cover the substantial costs of wig creation, with options for one-time or recurring donations.
Salon Participation: Hair professionals can join the United Salons network, hosting events or providing expertise.
Corporate Partnerships: Businesses can sponsor wig creation or provide in-kind support for the organization's operations.
Volunteer: From administrative help to event planning, talents of all kinds are needed to sustain the mission.
"What touches me most," reflects Chimera as the camera captures her gently packaging a completed wig for shipment, "is that these donations represent such personal sacrifice. Someone grew that hair for years. They nurtured it, cared for it. And then they chose to give it away to a stranger in need. That's the purest form of generosity I can imagine."
For those inspired by the News 12 feature to join this movement of compassion, visit hairweshare.org and unitedsalonsofamerica.com.
The complete News 12 Long Island video segment can be viewed here: https://longisland.news12.com/hair-we-share-volunteers-help-create-wigs-for-those-with-medical-hair-loss
The station has also announced plans for a follow-up piece later this year, focusing on recipient stories.
"The response from the News 12 coverage has been overwhelming," says Riskin in a post-interview statement. "Their platform has allowed us to reach thousands of new potential donors across Long Island and beyond."
As seen on News 12: Every strand tells a story. Every wig changes a life. Be part of the journey that's transforming lives across Long Island and beyond—because in the spotlight of Hair We Share, giving has never been more beautiful.
