How We Match Wigs to Recipients
One of the most common questions we receive at Hair We Share is, “Do you custom‑make wigs for each person?” The answer is no — our wigs are not custom — but they are customizable. We keep all donated hair in its natural color, and once a recipient receives their wig, they can take it to their own stylist for shaping, trimming, or even adding highlights if that’s part of their personal look. This allows each person to make the wig feel truly their own while still honoring the integrity of the donated hair.
Why Our Wigs Aren’t Custom
Every ponytail donated to Hair We Share is shipped to a professional factory, where skilled artisans hand‑tie and construct the wigs. This process is expensive and time‑intensive.
To stay sustainable and continue providing wigs at no charge, we maintain an inventory of completed wigs rather than creating each one from scratch.
This approach allows us to:
Serve recipients faster
Keep costs manageable
Ensure fairness across all applicants
Use donated hair efficiently and responsibly
Custom manufacturing for each individual would dramatically increase cost and wait times — and would limit how many people we could help.
How We Choose the Right Wig for Each Person
Even though our wigs aren’t custom‑made, the matching process is highly personalized. Our goal is always to select the wig that most closely reflects how the recipient sees themselves.
When someone applies for a wig, we look at:
Their age
Their natural hair color
Their preferred length
Their texture (straight, wavy, curly)
We also carry wigs in four cap sizes — XS, S, M, and L. Every applicant receives clear measuring instructions so they can determine their correct size at home. Once we know their measurements and preferences, we select the closest match from our existing inventory.
Why Some Hair Types Are Harder to Match
(and Why That Matters for Fairness)
Extra‑Long Hair
We lose 4 inches during sewing
Most donations are 8–12 inches
Most requests are 18–20 inches
Long hair donors are rare
Blonde Hair
More dark‑haired people exist globally
Many recipients dye their hair blonde
We dye grey hair blonde to help — but demand still exceeds supply
Curly Hair
Curls shrink up when sewn
We need longer curly ponytails to achieve the same finished length
Curly‑haired donors are less willing to cut long lengths because it takes so long to grow
How We Maintain Fairness and Dignity
Every recipient deserves to feel seen, respected, and supported.
Our matching process ensures:
No one is prioritized based on hair type or donation amount
Every applicant is treated equally
Wigs are distributed based on need and best match, not preference lists
No one waits for a custom build that may take months or cost thousands
This system allows us to help more people, more quickly, without compromising quality or compassion.
Why This System Works
Our approach balances:
Efficiency — faster turnaround for recipients
Sustainability — responsible use of donated hair
Affordability — keeping manufacturing costs manageable
Dignity — ensuring every person receives a wig that helps them feel like themselves again
And most importantly: It allows us to continue gifting wigs free of charge, which is the heart of our mission.
The Part Most People Don’t Realize
For every ponytail we receive, we also need $150 for manufacturing, and it takes 6–9 ponytails to create one wig.
This is why fundraising is essential. Hair donations alone are not enough — the financial support is what transforms ponytails into finished wigs.
Final Thought from Suzanne Chimera,
Hair We Share, Cofounder
Every wig we send out represents the kindness of many people — the donors who cut their hair, the supporters who help fund manufacturing, and the recipients who trust us during one of the hardest moments of their lives. The care that goes into matching each person is deeply personal. We do everything we can to honor the integrity of the donated hair, maintain fairness, and make sure every recipient feels seen.
Thank you for helping us continue this work with honesty, dignity, and heart.
Suzanne shipping wigs to recipients