Ponytail Tracking: Your Most Common Questions Answered

Wig with an inventory number tag; donor information is linked to this number in the database.

When someone donates their hair, it’s an act of generosity that comes straight from the heart. We understand how meaningful that moment is, and we want donors to feel connected to the impact they’re making. That’s why we created our Ponytail Tracking Program — a way to follow your donation through our process while also helping us fund the manufacturing of the wigs we gift at no charge.

This FAQ is designed to give you a clear, honest understanding of how tracking works and what to expect.

💛 How Ponytail Tracking Works

Once your ponytail arrives, it is logged and sorted by color, length, and texture. If you joined the Ponytail Tracking Program, your donation is tagged in our system so it can be included in our tracking process.

Because wig production is a long, detailed, and highly skilled process — and because we are still working through a significant post‑COVID backlog — updates can take time. Tracking does not speed up the process. Its primary purpose is to help cover the manufacturing expenses that allow us to gift wigs at no charge.

Ready to Donate Your Ponytail?

Make your haircut count. Join the Ponytail Tracking Program and help us turn your donation into a free wig for someone experiencing medical hair loss.

Your Top Questions — Answered

⏱️ How long does tracking take?

Under normal circumstances, wig production takes 6–9 months.

However, due to the COVID shutdown and a significant increase in donations afterward, we are currently working through a backlog of approximately 18–24 months. This means some updates may take longer than usual.

Even when you don’t hear from us right away, your ponytail is safely in our system, waiting for its turn in production. We are actively working to reduce this timeframe and move closer to our pre‑COVID pace.

📸 Will I receive a photo of the wig made with my hair?

Yes. As part of the Ponytail Tracking Program, we send a photo of the wig that was made using tracked donations. If the recipient gives permission, that photo may also show the wig being worn — but that part is never guaranteed.

Many recipients prefer privacy during their medical journey, and we honor that completely.

While we do send a photo of the completed wig, the core purpose of Ponytail Tracking is to help fund wig manufacturing so we can continue gifting wigs at no cost to recipients.

Ponytail Tracking when the recipient allows a photo (the “before” photo may not be shown, it is at the recipient’s discretion).

Ponytail Tracking when the recipient is not shown.

🎁 What does my tracking contribution support?

Your contribution directly supports the manufacturing costs involved in turning donated ponytails into a finished wig. This includes:

• Professional wig‑making labor performed by our trusted factory partner

• Materials and supplies needed for construction

• Shipping the hair to the factory

• Shipping the completed wig back to us

• Shipping the final wig to its recipient

Wigs being packaged for shipping to recipients.

Volunteers from the Life’s WORC day habilitation program unpacking wigs received from the factory.

Help Us Sponsor More Wigs

Every wig we gift is made possible by people who believe in our mission. Your contribution helps us process donated ponytails and provide free wigs to children and adults in need.

Each wig requires many hours of skilled craftsmanship and multiple ponytails. Tracking helps us sustain this process so that no recipient ever receives a bill.

🧵 Will my ponytail be used on its own or combined with others?

Most wigs require multiple ponytails to achieve the right fullness. Your donation becomes part of a collective effort — a beautiful example of many people coming together to help someone in need.

Ponytail hair being pulled through a hackle, which removes fragile strands so only strong hairs are used in the wig.

🎯 Can my ponytail go to a specific recipient?

In most cases, no — individual ponytails are combined to create the best possible wig for the next person whose needs match the hair we have available.

However, there are very limited situations where we can match a donor’s ponytail to a specific recipient. All of the following conditions must be met:

• The recipient must have permanent hair loss

• They must be willing to wait through our full production timeline

• They must submit and be approved through our wig application before the hair is sent to us

• They must want the donor’s natural hair type, because we do not alter, color, or chemically process donated hair

These situations are rare, but when every requirement is met, we can honor the request.

For all other cases, ponytails are combined to create the highest‑quality wig possible while maintaining fairness and consistency for every recipient.

Host a Hair Donation Drive

Schools, salons, and community groups make an enormous impact. Partner with us to collect ponytails and help sponsor the wigs we create.

📬 Can I track a donation I made in the past?

Tracking must be added at the time of donation. If hair arrives without tracking, it is logged, stored, and placed into our inventory as “unsponsored.” It can still be identified — but it cannot be added to the Ponytail Tracking Program retroactively.

We work to sponsor unsponsored hair through our own fundraising efforts. Our highest‑priority needs are:

• Ponytails longer than 20 inches

• Blonde hair, which we receive in very limited quantities

If we are able to secure sponsorship for your unsponsored hair through our fundraising, we will reach out and give you the opportunity to donate the $150 so that you can sponsor someone else’s hair. At that point, we will also share the photo of the wig made from your donation.

Why Tracking Matters

Ponytail Tracking gives donors a meaningful connection to the process — but even more importantly, it helps us fund the manufacturing of the wigs we gift at no charge. Without this support, we simply could not continue providing free wigs to those experiencing medical hair loss.

Your ponytail is more than hair. It becomes part of a life‑changing gift, and your tracking contribution helps make that possible.

A Note from Suzanne, Hair We Share Cofounder

Every donation we receive represents kindness, courage, and compassion. Whether or not a recipient photo is available, your ponytail plays a real role in helping someone feel like themselves again.

Thank you for being part of this mission.

Suzanne with newly made wigs that have just been prepared for photographing.