Most people after they get a haircut stand up from the salon chair and see snippets of their hair on the floor, just waste to be swept away and disposed.
Not so for Terry Kramarz when he visited a local salon last week. Kramarz left behind two long “ponytails” of wavy brown hair that will be crafted into Wigs for Kids. That’s a charity Kayla Hunt, owner of Salon 2211 at the Mendenhall Mall, has previously sent donated hair to for children in need.
Wigs for Kids was founded in 1981, according to the nonprofit’s website. The gift of human hair aids children suffering from hair loss due to chemotherapy treatments, burns, medical conditions and other circumstances.
“Children shouldn’t have to worry about how they look, especially when they’re in the middle of a health crisis,” states the organization’s website, quoting founder Jeffrey Paul. Wigs are custom-made for the child and use donated human hair. There is no charge to the recipients or their families. The organization relies on financial donations as well as donated hair. Wigs can cost about $1,800.
“Each wig is made with about 150,000 strands of natural hair tied into the foundation of the wig, so each wig fits the recipient’s head perfectly for more comfort and a more natural look,” according to the website.
Kramarz has donated his hair prior to his end-of-May 2025 contribution. Previously he and his family lived in Florida where his last cut occurred in May 2020. Usually he donates his hair every two years, but he decided to give longer locks this time.
“My hair grows fast,” he said in a phone interview on Sunday.
“It’s interesting how labor-intensive it is to make a wig by hand,” Kramarz said. “I’m glad there is a charity that does it.”
“I did next to nothing,” he said of simply allowing his hair to grow. He has no personal experience with a child needing a special hair replacement prosthesis.
Hunt collects donated hair from children and adult customers willing to give hair longer than 14 inches. Of the 15 to 25 hair donations she makes per year, approximately eight are given by young girls.
To prepare the hair for saving, Hunt wraps a snug band around a ponytail-sized section of hair, snips it at the customer’s preferred length and preserves it in long hanks. She individually bags the hair, then mails the collection via the U.S. Postal Service. As a licensed cosmetologist she is registered with Wigs for Kids and follows their protocols for submissions.
Occasionally long hair is cut and preserved for cultural or artistic uses instead of wig donation. After the tanker Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in March of 1989 the oil company asked salons to collect human hair to be made into mats that could soak up oil that flowed to various locations around Prince William Sound, Hunt said.
Hunt has worked at Salon 2211 for 16 years and purchased the business in September 2024. She anticipates two more stylists joining her this summer, leasing their stations as independent contractors and sharing the salon space. The mall salon is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Mondays.
Before moving on to another customer’s haircut on Wednesday afternoon, Hunt said, “I wish I could see the kids receiving the wigs (with hair we send).”
Like Hunt, Terry Kramarz was happy to give something to children in need. He has donated his hair multiple times and plans to do it more, he said.
• Laurie Craig can be contacted via editor@juneauempire.com.
