Donating your hair in the Philippines — the honest guide
Fourteen inches of hair, one afternoon — and someone fighting cancer or alopecia gets a real-hair wig, free. Here is exactly how it works, honestly told.
Written by the HEADS Hair Knowledge Team · Last updated · Educational content, honestly told
Why donated hair matters so much here
Every real-hair wig for a patient starts with people like you. Through Hair for Hope — the hair-donation initiative of HEADS by volu-med and The European Hair Factory — donated ponytails become free wigs for cancer and alopecia patients, working with partner hospitals across the Philippines. It takes about nine quality-passed hair bundles to craft a single wig, so every single donation genuinely counts.
What qualifies
The rules are simpler than most people think: at least 14 inches (35.5 cm) from tie to tip, hair tied or braided before the cut, sealed in a clean ziplock or envelope. Coloured, treated, bleached, rebonded and curly hair are all welcome — only severely damaged hair is discouraged. Wash and fully dry your hair before donating, with no creams, gels or conditioner on the day.
Where and how to donate
At the HEADS salon in Makati. Book a donation cut at The Residences at Greenbelt — the cut costs ₱1,200, and it is free when you donate 18 inches (about 46 cm) or more. You leave with a fresh style; your ponytail goes straight into the program.
Upcoming drive: “Tutok Buhok” at the Philippine General Hospital (Dietary Hall, 2/F, Taft Avenue, Manila) on 15 September 2026, 8am–3pm — free haircut from 14 inches, for the benefit of patients with alopecia.
At a hospital drive. Hospitals and institutions across the country run Hair for Hope drives — recent partners include St. Luke’s, MakatiMed, The Medical City, UERM, Healthway QualiMed Iloilo and the Calamba Cancer Center. Drives are announced on hairforhope.ph and @hairforhope.heads.
By courier, from anywhere in the Philippines. If you cut elsewhere, send your tied ponytail to Hair for Hope — both addresses (HEADS Greenbelt and The European Hair Factory in Cabuyao, Laguna) are listed on hairforhope.ph.
What happens to your hair
Your ponytail travels to The European Hair Factory in Laguna, where it is sorted, quality-checked and hand-crafted — knot by knot — into wigs for patients who could never afford one. Ask for your Certificate of Donation at hairforhope@heads.ph; many donors frame it.
Ready to give hope, strand by strand? Everything you need is on hairforhope.ph →
Questions we hear
What is the minimum hair length to donate in the Philippines?
14 inches (about 35.5 cm), measured from the tie to the tip. Hair must be tied or braided before cutting and placed in a clean ziplock or envelope.
Is the haircut free when I donate my hair?
At HEADS in Makati the donation cut costs ₱1,200 — and it is completely free when you donate 18 inches (about 46 cm) or more. At hospital drives like Tutok Buhok at PGH, the haircut is free from 14 inches.
Can I donate coloured, treated or curly hair?
Yes — coloured, treated, bleached, rebonded and curly hair are all welcome, as long as it is not severely damaged.
Do I get proof of my donation?
Yes. Hair for Hope issues a Certificate of Donation — request it by email at hairforhope@heads.ph after your donation.