This is a very interesting question. On our blog, we understand how important hair
is as part of our physical and emotional presentation. That’s why, in so many
articles, we’ve covered all the relevant areas: its origin, its composition, its
problems, its treatments, the specialists who treat it, the emotional aspects, from
hair loss to graying, its aesthetics, different types of cuts for all hair types, etc. I
thought we had covered every aspect of hair, until today!
This article discusses those who have suffered or are currently suffering from
cancer and -as a result of their treatment- experience hair loss. In addition to the
physical and mental suffering caused by the disease itself, hair loss is often a
consequence of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other treatments.
The hair loss process generally begins two weeks after starting treatment, falling
out in clumps, a stark reminder to the patient that their body is reacting to the life-
saving treatment. It is a very painful experience.
Following a holistic approach, cancer hospitals have observed that hair loss is one
of the most emotionally impactful factors for their patients, affecting their physical
recovery time.
As a result of this, guidelines were developed to prepare the patient emotionally,
recommending the use of turbans, scarves, and wigs.
And given the excellent results that wigs have yielded -as with everything-some
people saw an opportunity to profit from this misfortune.
After watching a television program about the confiscation at Miami Airport of a
suitcase full of sorted hair ribbons from Colombia worth thousands of dollars, which
two women were fighting over in court, I decided to investigate the matter, and it
led me to some incredible information.
According to Google, here are some facts to consider:
1- Making a wig from your own long hair costs between $1,600 and $2,000.
2- Selling your hair can generate between $100 and $650, depending on its quality.
3- Therefore, there are classifications of hair type, length, thickness, etc., which
determine its value as if it were a commodity.
4- And it’s also detailed there that a 30cm long, 200-gram strand of virgin hair from
a girl costs $1,600.
5- If you consider that a medium-quality wig should weigh at least 300 grams, you
can calculate what a wig actually costs and what its market value is.
6- According to this data and other information I obtained for this article, the
minimum consumer price for a guaranteed, good-quality human hair wig is around
$5,000.
7-This has led to an exponentially growing market that traffics human hair from
various parts of the world to Europe and the USA, where it is manufactured into
wigs and sold at prices that cancer patients’ families can only afford with great
sacrifice.
8-This has raised ethical questions about the origin of the hair, the transparency of
its handling, and the wig manufacturing process. Because it is such a murky
market, it has even resulted in thefts of wigs from retail establishments.
This is what’s shocking: hair, the subject of our blog, has become a highly
valued commodity in the 21st century, not because of a fashion trend
(aesthetics) for a quick change of look, but because of the emotional need
many bald people face due to cancer treatments that threaten their lives.
I urge you to reflect on this; we already are… when you’re at the salon and see how
they sweep up the hair they’re cutting. Now you know how much your hair is
worth—the hair you lose when you get it cut at the salon.
Donating your hair can be a very powerful act: with just one braid, you can help
create a wig that changes the life of someone undergoing cancer treatment.
Donating not only helps practically by lowering the cost for cancer patients, but it’s
also a gesture of empathy, of human solidarity that is so desperately needed.
Many patients who receive wigs say they give them confidence, dignity, and relief
during a very difficult time. If I manage to inspire you to do this, congratulations
because I will have achieved my goal of opening your heart.
And for those who think they’re lucky because their hair is too short, remember that
wigs have a cost. Therefore, donating towards their production will help ensure that
more free wigs reach more patients who need them.
However, please identify the most reputable and well-known cancer organization in
your city to ensure your donation truly benefits patients in need.
It’s important to consider donating your hair. Not only will it be a generous act,
but you’ll also be helping to transform someone’s life, giving them back a part of
their identity that they’ve lost in their fight against this difficult disease.
Only you will know if this article hits you and if you decide to donate.
If you do, it will be with both your heart and your mind, and that is
invaluable.THANK YOU!
