Christmas may be over, but the season of giving should be all year round! And what’s the perf gift that will never go out of style? Hair, of course!

Locks of Love is a non-profit org that provides hairpieces, made from donated hair, to financially disadvantaged children under 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Not only do the kids get a new head of hair, but they also gain self-confidence.

A majority of the recipients have alopecia areata or cancer. Alopecia Areata is an auto-immune skin disease that results in hair loss on the scalp and body. More than 5 million people in the United States are affected by this disease. Unfortunately, its cause and cure have not yet been discovered.

image source: veryaware.com

In 50/50, why did Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character shaved his head before starting chemo? During chemotherapy, rapidly growing cancer cells are killed along with other growing cells, such as those in the roots of your hair. In addition, radiation used to treat brain tumors can also cause hair loss on the scalp.

Guidelines for hair donations:

• Minimum length is 10 inches measured tip to tip.
• Hair must be in a ponytail or braid before it is cut.
• Colored and permed hair, OK.
• Bleached hair, not OK.
• If for some reason you saved hair that was cut years ago, Locks of Love will accept it as long as it’s in a ponytail or braid and at least 10 inches, of course.

Click here for more information on Locks on Love.

New year. New hair. Check out Allure’s 6 Best Bob Hairstyles.

By ALYSSA LLAMAS