Donate Your Ponytail at Shavathon
- FAQs Hair Donations
- Why not have the Kindest Haircut to the Benefit of cancer Survivors?
- Where there is a Will there is a Way – and a Wig!
Cancer patients often undergo chemotherapy. Hair loss can occur when chemotherapy drugs travel throughout the body to kill cancer cells and some of these drugs damage hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out. Hair loss is a common side-effect of chemotherapy treatment.
Human Hair Wigs
CANSA’s Kindest Cut campaign: CANSA receives human hair donations (ponytails) in order to make sufficient wigs for cancer Survivors requesting them. These wigs are distributed, as requested, to CANSA Care Centres all over the country, and given to cancer Survivors who need it most.
CANSA welcomes all kinds of hair for donation and wigs cater to the needs of all ethnic groups. Although it is preferred that the ponytail be 25 cm or longer, shorter hair is also acceptable as it can be used as filler-hair.
We do accept hair donations at our Shavathons and throughout the year at our Head Office in Gauteng and via local CANSA Care Centres, countrywide. Hair donations received are then sent to a wig manufacturer of human hair.
These wigs are given to cancer Survivors (patients) for a minimum donation of R350.* Larger donations are welcome.
*patient’s income is taken into consideration
Please note: CANSA does not have a specific partnership with any hairdressing salons. Please contact a salon of your choice when cutting your hair, in order to make a hair donation.
Special thanks to Tymeless Hair & Wigs for making up wigs for CANSA. See wig making process…
Requirements – Human Hair Donations:
- Ponytail donation that is 25 cm or longer. Shorter hair may be used as a filler.
- Hair should be clean and dry.
- All hair whether dyed or treated is acceptable.
- When cutting the hair, please bind both ends with an elastic band covered with fabric and place in a zip-lock bag (this preserves it in the best condition while being transported to the wig manufacturer).
- Send your hair donation in a plastic bag with your name and contact details on it.
Postage Human Hair Donations to CANSA
- For Att: Lucinda Carter
- CANSA Head Office
- P.O. Box 2121, Bedfordview 2008
Where to Drop off Human Hair Donations
- at your local CANSA Care Centre – phone Care Centre for address details or
- at CANSA’s Head Office: 26 Concorde Road West, Bedfordview
Wig Hire
Most CANSA Care Centres have wig-banks that stock synthetic and human hair wigs available to patients. The availability, styles and colours vary at each CANSA Care Centre.
- hiring of synthetic wig: R350 per month
- donation towards natural hair wig: R350* – this does not include courier fees to clients
*when human hair donations are received, CANSA sends the hair to our dedicated wigmakers who make wigs and return them to CANSA. Your donation enables CANSA to make this possible.
*patient’s income is taken into consideration
Upon request wigs made from human hair may be ordered from CANSA’s Head Office if there is no regional stock available at the time. Requests for human hair wigs may be directed to Lucinda Carter lcarter@cansa.org.za
Fascinations Wigs trained our CANSA staff on wig care…
Queries CANSA
Please direct any queries regarding wigs or the donation of human hair to your local CANSA Care Centre, alternately, email: info@cansa.org.za
Hi!
I am wishing to donate a ponytail, but it not long enough according to the requirements.
What happens to ponytails donated that are too short? Would I still be able to donate it?
Hi Tamsin
The wigmaker can use shorter bits as fillers. It is just preferable to donate the required length as then the use of hair is maximised.
hi is there another cancer shavathon for 2019
Hi Tracey We do an annual Shavathon nationally end Feb beginning March only. However, certain local CANSA Care Centres do events at other times also. It’s best to contact your local CANSA Care Centre to find out: https://www.cansa.org.za/cansa-care-centres-contact-details/ thanks for your support.
3 weeks ago I cut my hair as I was starting chemo the following week. My short hair was then dyed pink. Yesterday I left my ponytails at the Rainbow Oncology in Hillcrest (I didn’t know I was meant to put my name on it though but hopefully that doesn’t matter). And today – exactly 2 weeks after my 1st chemo session – my short pink hair has started to fall out. Thank goodness I cut it when I did.
Hi Tracy thanks so much for donating your hair to encourage another cancer patient. Please join our FBK support group for cancer patients and loved ones if you would like to connect with other patients and receive encouragement: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChampionsofHope/members/ – you are also more than welcome to contact your local CANSA Care Centre for support: https://www.cansa.org.za/cansa-care-centres-contact-details/ – wishing you strength during treatment.
I cannot think of any course that would make cutting off my hair so worthwhile. This is my first attempt and I will be 50 in a few months time. Lots to be thankful for. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate my life than to bring a smile to another. Please let me know where and when this is happening in 2019. I want to take off all of the almost 40 cm and donate this to CANSA. God bless you all for your great work
Hi Wulci this is indeed a beautiful way to celebrate your 50th. Please find details regarding shopping centre events here: https://www.shavathon.org.za/participating-shopping-centres/ and here: https://www.shavathon.org.za/shave-or-spray-at-a-shopping-centre/
Donated my hair (+/- 30 cm ) on Shavaton day (saturday 24 Feb 2018) at Gezina Galleries
Thanks so much Maritha for such a generous gift to a cancer Survivor (patient) – if you would like to share what motivated you to make the donation and send some pics, you can email me at webmaster@cansa.org.za
Donated my 94cm’s 2day 25/02/18
WOW thanks so much Charnette, that is an amazing gesture of support to cancer Survivors! You are welcome to email any images to webmaster@cansa.org.za
Hi, I donated my hair two years ago and will be donating this year as well.
Thank you Sue – it’s wonderful that you are donating a second time to help a cancer patient.
Two of my friends, my five-year-old daughter and I can’t wait to donate in 2018! This is such a great cause to be a part of, I just wish we’d known about it sooner.
Can you please tell me when the Shavathon event for 2018 will take place at Pavilion Mall (Durban)?
I am so excited to donate my hair for this beautiful cause.
Keep up the amazing work!
xoxo
Hi Jacqueline, thanks so much for being willing to donate your hair at Shavathon 2018. It will make facing treatment a little easier for a cancer Survivor (patient).
Mall Shavathons happen nationally on the last weekend of February at participating venues (these can change from year to year, so be sure to check this web page for confirmation of your closest participating venue, beforehand: https://www.shavathon.org.za/participating-shopping-centres/).
My 5 Year old wants to have her hair/pony cut and donated, I will be doing this on the 09th September after her concert. I cant wait, so exciting! 🙂
I would donate mine but its too thin and not 25cms 🙁
Laura thanks very much for sharing re your daughter’s hair donation. It’s wonderful that she is making such a caring gesture at this young age. Please tell her that we are so thankful and that she is truly making a difference in someone’s life, who is fighting cancer. xxx
This year I donated my ponytail feel so blessed to help somebody else
This will be my 4th year and 4th ponytail Ive donated and I will keep doing this as long as I have hair. It makes a person feel blessed to help others. Thanks to all for such an awesome cause.
Thank you Lisa your hair donations are priceless, as they make it easier for a cancer Survivor (patient) to handle the side effects of treatment.
This year i donated my ponytail for a wig..I will do it over and over, knowing that this is something awesome
I would rather donate it to this amazing cause then just get it cut and swept away..
I got my mum to do the same..
This wasn’t our first time .. over 30cm’s was cut off this year..
Thanks so much Kirshua and to your mum! You will help make facing cancer treatment a little easier for a cancer Survivor. If you have got before / after pics of the two of you, please forward them to webmaster@cansa.org.za
I would like to donate some of my hair to this awesome cause. Maybe the source of my migraines will give someone some pleasure.
I want to donate about 30 odd cm of my hair to a really good cause.
my name is Isabella and I donated my hair last year when I was 10 years old.. This year my sister, Sofia, who is 9 is donating her hair. i hope someone feels beautiful with our hair.
Thanks so much Isabella for donating your hair last year and Sofia thank you also for being willing to part with your hair this year. You will definitely help to make a cancer Survivor (patient) feel beautiful!
I am going to donate my hair within the next week or so. The entire 30 or 40 odd cm of it. I am also trying to get my friends involved. I am planning on doing it once every two years from now on. My hair grows quite fast. Losing your hair can never be easy and if I can help this way I do it with pleasure!
I am all most there to donate my hair
My baby sister was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer almost 2 months ago, she had her first chemo
and 2 weeks later her hair starting falling out… in supporting her , we as a family shaved our heads and most of our cousins and aunts cut off their ponytails and we would love to donate all the hair collected . I know our sacrifice will mean the world to someone.
Dear Wiedaad
I am sad to hear about your little sister’s diagnosis with lymphoma. It is a wonderful gesture of support that you as a family are making by donating your hair so that a cancer Survivor can face treatment with more confidence. You can drop your hair donations at your local CANSA Care Centre – see contact details: http://www.cansa.org.za/cansa-care-centres-contact-details/
It is important that your little sister and her family are supported at this time. Please email Vera van Dalen who heads up our support to children / teens & families affected by cancer, nationally. Her email: tlc@cansa.org.za
Read more about our TLC Programme for children / teens & families here: http://www.cansa.org.za/tlc-for-youth-and-families-affected-by-cancer/
See more info on types of Childhood Cancer here: http://www.cansa.org.za/types-of-childhood-cancer/
Wishing you all much strength at this time.
I donated my ponytail today for a wig!!!!! The woman that give me a lift to work everyday husband was diagnosed with cancer about a year and 3 months back. Luckily for him his hair didn’t fall out and he has been in remission for 11 months. I grew my hair so no one who suffers from this dreaded disease should feel ugly.