The Locks of Love Scam
They can't be trusted
Locks of Love poses as a charity organization that accumulates and donates human hair to be turned into
wigs for cancer patients. In principle, this is a noble thing to do for a good cause, but as with so many good causes, one can’t take anything at face value.
One has to look a little closer to determine if Locks of Love can be
trusted.
By Locks of Love own
admission, the organization is extremely hesitant to process hair that is
received in the mail. In an email, a Locks
of Love spokesperson stated that human hair is known to contain any number of
parasites and has to go through a cleansing process before it can be used. This cleansing process he stated is rather
expensive and Locks of Love cannot afford this process.
As such, hair that is
received in the mail or dropped off at the office, is sold to wig
manufacturers in California who have facilities to cleanse hair. Most of the hair ends up in the wardrobe
studios of Hollywood where it is worn by the actors and actresses or is sold to
European wig manufacturers.
Family members or friends
of a child with cancer often donate their hair in the hope that a wig can be
created of their hair. This is not a
realistic expectation. Eight to ten
ponytails of a similar color and texture are needed to make one wig. The bottom
three inches are cut and throw away. Hair that has been permed, straightened or
colored is also throw away.
Lock of Love’s claims that
wigs are donated to children suffering from cancer is less than true. In general kids with cancer are rejected for
a wig as their baldness is temporary.
Their baldness is a direct result from chemo and radiation
treatment. Once the treatment has been
concluded, the child’s natural hair grows back.
As such, the hair loss is temporary and the child does not qualify for a
wig.
One insider stated that
Locks of Love doesn’t give wigs to kids with cancer, Locks of Love simply uses
them to create sympathy with the public.
Only children suffering
from Alopecia and other long-term hair loss conditions are being considered,
which are very small in number. For the
Alopecia patient to receive a wig, the parents of a child can apply but are
not guaranteed to receive a wig. The
parents have to write a 2,000-word essay stating why they think their child
qualifies for a wig, send a photo of the child and need to pay for the wig in
accordance with their earnings. Children
of families that have an income of $100,000 or more are not illegible.
Lock of Love claims to be
a not for profit organization, but that is not quite true either. Take a look a financial statement for 2009
from the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and draw your own conclusions.
Total income $1,925,345
Program expenses $1,041,105
Fund raising expenses $20,185
Administrative expenses $230,207
Total expenses $1,291,497
Income in Excess of Expenses $633,848
Beginning net assets $4,586,851
Ending net assets $5,220,699
Total liabilities $11,144
Total assets $5,231,843
If you’re thinking of donating your hair … DON’T!
You are being scammed!
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