I recently have been taking better care of my hair, and it wasn't two weeks when I was already informed that I should donate.  (By a woman with short, dyed, permed hair of course who wouldn't sacrafice her hairstyle to take care of her hair in such a way she could donate it, but I should donate mine)

I talked to another girl at work who got hers chopped to just below the ears.  She was heartbroken and missed her hair.  I asked her if she had become tired of it.  No, she had donated it at the behest of her sister.  I told her they get more than they can use -- she didn't have to feel bad if she wanted to write a check instead.

Well, then I talked to another girl, and I commented on her waist length, thick, beautiful hair, and she said she was going to donate it to locks of love.  I said if she isn't going to cut it anyway she might want to take another look because they take in much more hair than they can use.

I just can't believe how pervasive this is!  I'm looking for someone with nice hair who isn't planning to donate it -- they're becoming hard to find!

It is frustrating.  The media loves the LOL "story".  All we can do is educate and state our own opinions.  Welcome to the club!

I agree, and it's annoying that most people don't bother to do background check on the organization. I haven't heard of any recently, but a couple of years ago it seemed like there were several LOL hair-cutting drives going on in my state. Before I learned how shady LOL is, I thought that was a nice thing to do, but not any more.

I guess if someone wants to donate and are genuinely happy about it, that is a good thing -- it's always good to give.  But neither of these women were happy about it.

I'm so glad that LoL doesn't operate here- and if it ever reaches its tendrils here, I'm finally in a position where I might be able to do something about it.

Not that I'm paranoid or anything (well of course I am!), but it really sounds to me that LoL is some conspiracy of salon industry that aims at getting everyone to get a short style. Why are they advertizing so heavily if they already have 90% more hair than they can use? Why do they get so much positive attention though it doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to find out rather disturbing facts about them? And most importantly: why don't people THINK before deciding that it's a great idea to donate their hair? Isn't it rather obvious that if one wants to give something, it would be way better idea to donate money or become a volunteer worker? ::)

My opinion is LoL advertises for more hair because they can sell the excess amounts (and who doesn't love to have excess money?!)  The salons go along with the "scam" because it gets them attention from the media as well as continuing to promote the short hair styles.  People donate for the attention and the "good feeling" they get for doing it - it gives them purpose.  And many people feel that if the media promotes it - it must be OK!

Does anyone know how many applications for wigs they get every year? I find it rather odd that the organization is so prominent, yet they make less than 200 wigs a year. Is it that they're not flooded with applications, or is LOL really lazy, or do they turn a lot of people away?

Perhaps the answer is really obvious, but I don't know what it is. :-/

I don't know for sure, but I *think* that they don't get that many applications, based on these reasons.
1) Doctors don't recommend human hair wigs for children because they're too difficult to take care for.
2) Most sick children don't like wigs at all but prefer to be bald or wear caps.
3) LoL wigs aren't free for recipients.

My boyfriend's sisters all donate their hair to LOL.  It's a shame, too -- their hair reaches far past mid-back.

wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2006 at 10:45am:

I don't know for sure, but I *think* that they don't get that many applications, based on these reasons. 1) Doctors don't recommend human hair wigs for children because they're too difficult to take care for. 2) Most sick children don't like wigs at all but prefer to be bald or wear caps. 3) LoL wigs aren't free for recipients.

Thanks, Galadriel. Those answers make a lot of sense.

Okay, now I'm even more annoyed that longhairs get pressured into donating when LOL doesn't even need the thousands upon thousands of donations they receive every year.

I've never heard this before.  I'll have to search the net...   any specific references?

Here's a link to the Charity Navigator Rating on LoL.

LoL does not meet the accounting standards for charities based on the CBBB Charity Report.

luckily I havent heard about it since I moved to Florida and I dont get bothered by it.   My stepmom went thru an accident and her hair was shaved and she hated to wear a wig so she wore hats instead.  

Okay, I'm a little late posting to this line, but did any of you see the LOL special on the Today Show last week?  (It was March 1, I believe.)  The show featured a hair-cutting drive at the studio and other drives from several other states.  I was in shock that the vast majority of people (men & women) getting their hair cut were having it cut by other members of the audience/community.  First off, I don't want to cut my hair, so I won't be giving any hair donations to LOL anytime soon, but second, I sure as heck don't want some yahoo who has never cut hair in their life coming after me with a pair of scissors!

I was aware that Ann Curry had been growing her hair out for a LoL cut.  Apparently it started with her daughter getting involved at school for a LoL chop.  

I agree, even if I was to have my hair cut for charity, I would prefer a professional be involved to make sure the cut would be the best for both sides of the cut!

I don't like it when other people TOUCH my hair.  I don't know how someone could just let an audience member hack their hair off.

I hope this doesn't become a hair nightmare for me.

About four years ago my freind K went in hospital to get a liver transplant. K had classic length, strawberry blonde hair. When I visited her after her operation, she was shrone like a hedgehog.  I asked her were was her hair?! She said that someone, I dont know which group, talked her into donating her hair.  I thought it was rude that these groups were going into transplant wards and asking people ( some were very critical) for there hair.  :(

To my mind, a legitimate charity would not need to pressure people. I mean sure, charities do solicite people, but what bother me about all this, leaving aside the dubious practices of LOL, is the pressure.
I mean, can you imagine going up to someone(like a coworker) and saying " I notice you wear a different fancy outfit every day, I think you should donate some of your clothes to goodwill, or your extra summer cottage or car to poor people." I don't think that would fly for a minute.  Why do people think it's alright to pressure people to cut their hair, especially if they don't really want to?  Is it jealousy that someone has long beautiful hair and they don't?  It would be entirely different if someone said, "well, I'm ready to cut my hair, so I guess I'll donate it". But it seems it's not the case.
I just don't think anyone should be pressure into donating anything- if they don't want to .

That's a very valid point, Babyfine. Well said.