Long Hair Is the Rarest — and the Most Requested
Most hair donors send ponytails between 8 and 12 inches. These donations are beautiful and deeply appreciated — but when it comes to wig making, longer hair is incredibly hard to come by.
If you’re thinking about donating your hair, you can find our full guidelines here: Hair Donation Instructions
And here’s something most people don’t know:
When a wig is made, every strand of hair is folded before it’s sewn.
This means we instantly lose 4–6 inches of usable length.
So a 12-inch ponytail becomes 6–8 inches in the finished wig. A 16-inch ponytail becomes 10–12 inches. And a 20-inch ponytail — our most cherished length — becomes the long, flowing hair so many children dream of.
This is why long hair is priceless. It’s rare. It’s requested constantly. And it’s the only way we can create long wigs that look natural and feel empowering.
The Hidden Work Behind Every Wig
A wig isn’t made from a single ponytail. It takes 5–9 ponytails to create one custom human‑hair wig — and that’s just the beginning.
Every wig also requires:
50+ hours of hand‑tying and construction
Specialized wig‑making materials
Shipping to and from our factory partner
Final shipping to the recipient
A custom fitting (always free)
And here’s something else donors rarely know:
We pay a professional factory to create every wig.
We’ve partnered with the same trusted factory for over 30 years. Their craftsmanship is extraordinary — but it comes at a real cost.
Before any of that work can begin, each ponytail must be:
Sorted
Cleaned
Processed
Matched
Prepared for construction
This processing alone costs $150 per ponytail.
Why Funding Determines What We Can Process
Because long hair is so rare — and because we lose several inches during construction — we must prioritize processing the longest ponytails first when funding is limited.
This is why financial support is essential:
It allows us to process all ponytails, not just the longest
It ensures shorter ponytails don’t sit in storage
It helps us meet the high demand for long wigs
It covers the cost of professional wig construction
It keeps our wait list moving
Your hair is the heart of the wig. Your support makes the wig possible.
How Donors Help Us Use Every Ponytail
Many donors choose to support the cost of processing their ponytail through our Ponytail Tracking Program. This program allows you to:
See the wig your hair helped create
Receive a certificate
Get an “I Made the Cut” T‑shirt
And most importantly:
Your $150 contribution ensures your ponytail becomes part of a completed wig.
This level of support is vital — especially for shorter ponytails — and it helps us keep up with the high demand for wigs.
You can contribute in whichever way works best for you:
Start a fundraiser on social media (Any additional funds help cover unsponsored ponytails.)
Include a check with your hair
Pay via PayPal or Venmo: @hairweshare
Use the donation link on our website
Every dollar helps us turn generosity into impact.
Your Hair Is the Heart of the Wig — Your Support Makes It Possible
Whether your ponytail is 8 inches or 18 inches, your donation is a gift of hope. And when you pair your hair donation with financial support, you help us:
Use every ponytail we receive
Create more wigs
Reduce wait times
Serve more children and adults experiencing medical hair loss
Together, we can make sure no ponytail — and no person — is left waiting.
Ready to donate your ponytail or support the process? Visit our Hair Donation page: Hair Donation Instructions
A Note From Our Co-Founder
Every day, I see the impact your generosity makes. I see the joy on a child’s face when they put on their new wig. I see the relief in a parent’s eyes. I see confidence return, shoulders lift, and smiles come back.
Your hair donation is a beautiful act of kindness. Your financial support turns that kindness into a finished wig.
From the bottom of my heart — thank you for helping us give hope, dignity, and confidence to those who need it most.
With gratitude, Suzanne Chimera
Hair We Share Co-Founder
