During this time, many patients choose to wear wigs, but finding a hairpiece is difficult. A good quality wig costs thousands of dollars, and is often made to fit an adult. Enter Locks of Love, a charitable organization dedicated to providing financially disadvantaged children who suffer from medical hair loss hair that looks and feels great.

The organization is supported by thousands of donors who grow and cut their hair in order to create these hairpieces. Unfortunately, many of the donors don’t follow the proper steps for donation. “Hair donors each give something of themselves and do so with the best intentions,” says Locks of Love President Madonna Coffman. “Although the requirements are listed on our Web site, many don’t understand the importance of the ‘how-to’ or the ‘when-to.’”

Nexxus Salon Hair Care believes everyone deserves a beautiful head of hair, so they have teamed up with the organization to make sure every donor does the right cut. A new, quick video on Nexxus.com offers an easy-to-follow demonstration on the proper steps for donation by celebrity stylist and Nexxus Creative Director Kevin Mancuso. Additional videos on the site offer healthy hair how-tos for anyone who wants to grow and protect a beautiful head of hair, with intentions of donating, as well as videos offering general styling and care advice.

“Some people spend years growing their hair out so that they can donate it to an organization like Locks of Love,” says Mancuso. “With a bit of education and a few simple steps, anyone can make a donation that’s guaranteed to help a child.”

Below are Mancuso’s time-tested suggestions for growing and maintaining gorgeous, healthy hair, as well as simple steps for donating to Locks of Love.

1: Trim
Keep hair healthy by trimming the ends every three months. This prevents ends from splitting and breaking, which can inhibit growth.

2: Protect with moisture
Breakage can be caused by your daily hair routine. Brushing hair too hard, using hair elastics, heat styling and chemical processing can all lead to increased breakage.

Maintaining moisture will help to protect your hair. Use a hydrating conditioner two or three times a week to fortify strands, while repairing damage. Every two weeks, nourish your hair with a deep-conditioning mask.

3: You are what you eat
The healthier you are, the stronger your hair will be. Be sure to eat a well-balanced and hair-and-skin healthy diet with lots of vitamin A, vitamin E and amino acids. Fruits, nuts, fish and green leafy vegetables are excellent sources for these vital nutrients.

Donation guidelines:

• Hair must be secured in a ponytail or braid before it is cut; and the cut must be made above the hair elastic.
• Hair must be at least 10 inches from the elastic to the tip.
• Hair must be clean and completely dry before it is mailed.
• A ponytail should be placed in a plastic bag and then into a padded envelope.
• Include the hair donation form available at www.LocksofLove.org so you can be acknowledged for the donation.

Visit www.nexxus.com/locks-of-love for more details on donating and to watch our donation how-to instructional video.

Courtesy of ARAcontent