Hair for Teens: Is It Just Hair?
Four times in my life, I’ve sat in a salon chair, feeling the weight of my hair disappear inch by inch. As the scissors made their snips, I felt the familiar heaviness that had been part of me for years begin to vanish. It was like each cut was severing a thread tied to a cherished memory.
The first snip took me back to middle school dance parties, where my hair was twisted into intricate buns and decorated with sparkly pins, those pleasant nights of dancing and laughing seemed to fall to the floor with the strands of hair. The second cut was a bittersweet farewell to the days of braiding playdates, the giggles and secrets shared with friends, as we wove each other’s hair into delicate patterns, came to an end for a while. The third carried me back to family beach day, the feeling of my hair bouncing as I ran, soaking in the beach scent and catching the sun—each represented years of memories cascading to the salon floor.
No Way: The Rituals of Teen Hair
Not only for me but for most teenagers, hair is more than just hair. It’s a fundamental part of our identity and how we remember ourselves. We are incredibly sensitive to how others see us, especially when it comes to our hair. We perform rituals in front of mirrors every morning, carefully brushing, straightening, and curling our hair, hoping to impress someone at school. It’s not just about looking good; it’s about feeling good and gaining confidence. So, we don’t mind skipping breakfast to ensure a “perfect hair day.”
Living Without It: Teens with Alopecia Areata
It was not until I saw influencers on social media with alopecia that I fully grasped the painful struggle of hair loss; many had been diagnosed with alopecia at a young age and used online spaces to reclaim their beauty and identity. Laura Mathias, who was diagnosed at 13, woke up each day hating what she saw in the mirror. To avoid teasing and bullying, she stopped going to school. Eventually, she stopped leaving the house at all. Desperate to control aspects of her body, she began working out excessively and restricting her eating.
Posts like this made me imagine walking down high school halls without the comforting shield of hair. The stares and whispers from peers must be devastating. Hair isn’t just a superficial feature; it’s deeply tied to our identity and self-worth. That is why teenagers with hair loss, like Mathias, face a unique and often isolating struggle.
Statistics on Pediatric Alopecia Areata
Hair loss is rare among teens, affecting about 1 in every 1,000, with one of the main causes being alopecia. This rarity makes them stand out in a way they never asked for. The absence of hair can lead to feelings of being different and out of place, intensifying the insecurities that all teens with alopecia feel.
Even worse, only 40% of patients experience full hair regrowth among those undergoing treatment. This means that affected teens continue to battle partial regrowth, and a significant number face a lifetime of recurring hair loss episodes. This statistic highlights the chronic nature of alopecia and the prolonged emotional and psychological burden it places on teenagers, who are already navigating the complex landscape of adolescence.
According to the Dermatology Times, “Patients with alopecia areata may be at a heightened risk and overall higher prevalence of certain psychological conditions and symptoms, including anxiety and depression.” This underscores the severe psychological effects of alopecia on teens, leading to a cycle of anxiety and depression that exacerbates feelings of isolation and low self-esteem.
Introducing Locks of Love
Madonna Coffman, the founder of Locks of Love, developed alopecia in her twenties after receiving a hepatitis vaccination. She struggled immensely with her own hair loss, but it was even more heartbreaking to watch her daughter go through the same ordeal. Compelled to help others grappling with this tumultuous journey, Mrs. Coffman launched a new chapter of her life, investing countless hours to build a new organization that would become Locks of Love.
Since then, Locks of Love has been dedicated to helping provide hair pieces to young teenagers and children under 21 who suffer from long-term medical hair loss. Many are financially disadvantaged and cannot afford wigs, which can cost several thousand dollars. This organization currently receives 104,000 hair donations and produces about 2,080 hair pieces annually, with 20-30 dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers working daily. The hair pieces are customized to be safe and comfortable for children’s sensitive scalps, whereas most wigs are for adults. The organization then reaches out to young people, providing them with wigs free of charge. By accommodating their needs, Locks of Love helps to restore self-confidence and identity to young people with alopecia.
Coffman’s Personal Insights
After contacting Locks of Love, I was fortunate enough to correspond with Coffman personally, inquiring about her personal journey running a charitable organization.
Each time she discovered that significant donations were completely unusable due to their poor condition, it was devastating. It felt like throwing away bundles of hope that would never reach the children who needed it most. Surprisingly, 80% of Locks of Love’s donations, worth approximately 6 million dollars, cannot be turned into wigs as they arrive with mold in the package, have been swept off the ground, or are not bound in a ponytail or braid.
Once enough usable hair is made into wigs, the organization struggles to find and contact children in need of their hair.
“We strive daily to exhaust all avenues in identifying children who need our service. We attend medical conferences, enroll in hair salons that wish to participate, post daily on social media, and support all questions directed to us to help spread the word about our cause,” Coffman said.
Her voice filled with determination and a hint of sorrow. The emotional toll of knowing that there are children out there who need help but are hard to reach is a heavy burden Coffman carries every day.
However, the stories of how the hairpieces impact young people make navigating the challenges more than worthwhile. Coffman recalls endless memories form the last 26 years.
“Hearing descriptions of parents shedding helpless tears and then the same parents shedding happy tears once their child has received a hairpiece is immensely rewarding. I remember speaking to the mother of a past recipient. She was so grateful and couldn’t say enough about the impact a hairpiece had on her daughter. She was so impressed by the quality of the hairpieces and said she would sing our praises to whoever would listen,” adding on, “Now an adult, her daughter did whatever she could to encourage people to donate. It was wonderful hearing about how much it changed her life. It is why we do what we do, and hearing how it made such a difference in someone’s life was very memorable,” Coffman said.
Donating Hair: The Second Best Way to Help
The ultimate way to help those suffering from alopecia is to find a cure. Since 2006, Locks of Love has been funding research for the cause and treatment of alopecia, hoping their service will someday shift to offering successful treatment for its underlying cause. While we work toward that goal, hair donation is the second-best way to make a difference. Here is how we can all help:
- Prepare Your Hair: Ensure your hair meets the donation requirements. It must be at least 10 inches long, clean and dry, and should be bundled in a ponytail or braid.
- Choose a Donation Organization: Research and select a reputable organization like Locks of Love, which specializes in creating wigs for children with long-term medical hair loss.
- Cut and Send: Have your hair cut by a professional sitting in a salon chair like me, or follow the organization’s guidelines for cutting at home. Place the hair in a sealed plastic bag in a padded envelope, and send it to a donation organization. For Locks of Love, send it to 234 Southern Blvd. West Palm Beach, FL 33405-2701. Donors must ensure that no hair is swept from the floor, as it makes the hair unusable.
- Spread the word: Encourage others to donate by sharing your experience on social media or within your community. Every donation can make a significant difference in someone’s life.
A Testimonial from a Teen Recipient
One of the most touching stories comes from client testimonial, Joanna, a 20-year-old who has received a wig from Locks of Love for six years. Joanna was diagnosed with alopecia areata at the age of 18 months. By the age of eight, she had lost every strand of hair on her head, eventually losing hair on her entire body. The aggressive hair loss was devastating for her, preventing her from having a normal childhood.
“Receiving a beautiful hairpiece from Locks of Love was like washing away all my worries. I felt beautiful and confident again, less insecure, and more social. I remember looking in the mirror and seeing a reflection that made me smile for the first time in years. It wasn’t just about having hair—it was about feeling normal and going to pool parties and sleepovers without a worry in the world. I am so grateful to everyone who donates. The weight of hair might seem small, but it means the world to someone like me,” Joanna said.
Joanna’s story powerfully reminds us of the impact a simple act of kindness can have. Each donation helps restore hair, hope, and self-esteem, making a profound difference in those affected by alopecia.
Strands of Hair: The Weight of Hope
The slow changes to the weight of my hair reminded me of the gravity of change brought to someone else’s life. One person’s privilege can be another person’s desperate wish. One’s sacrifice can be the other’s greatest gift, and someone’s small gift can contribute to another’s most profound happiness. Hair donation is not commonly known, but patients with alopecia deserve the equal opportunity to experience as much joy as those who live without it.
Each strand of hair carries the potential to empower someone battling with the consequences of alopecia. As research progresses and new treatments emerge, the hope remains that organizations like Locks of Love will one day achieve their ultimate goal: to no longer be needed. Until then, donating hair is a tangible way to make a meaningful difference in someone else’s life, offering them the chance to embrace their authentic selves with new confidence and dignity. The inches of change we offer through our donations bring infinite hope to those who need it most, turning each snip of the scissors into a step toward a brighter, more confident future for someone else.
