Donate your ponytail.
At least 4,000 ponytails are needed each year to make enough wigs for those living without hair as a result of medically-induced hair loss-conditions. When Sustainable Salons first looked into the ponytail donation process, there was not even half that number of ponytails making their way to the right channels!
Before starting Sustainable Salons, Co-founder Paul Frasca was a salon hairdresser for 20 years, and on reflection he realised he’d cut thousands of ponytails in that time but hadn’t donated any of them! It wasn’t common knowledge then that someone without hair could benefit from the strands that someone else didn’t want anymore.
So, when dumped in landfill, valuable ponytails have just become wasted resources… until now.
Sustainable Salons has collected more than 43,700 ponytails since the program launched in 2015.
This is what makes you, the ponytail donor, so special and it’s why we celebrate you whole-heartedly. You hold an incredible power to improve the life of someone who is going through something they didn’t ask for, don’t deserve and can’t control…
You have Pony Power!
Before starting Sustainable Salons, Co-founder Paul Frasca was a salon hairdresser for 20 years, and on reflection he realised he’d cut thousands of ponytails in that time but hadn’t donated any of them! It wasn’t common knowledge then that someone without hair could benefit from the strands that someone else didn’t want anymore.
So, when dumped in landfill, valuable ponytails have just become wasted resources… until now.
Sustainable Salons has collected more than 43,700 ponytails since the program launched in 2015.
This is what makes you, the ponytail donor, so special and it’s why we celebrate you whole-heartedly. You hold an incredible power to improve the life of someone who is going through something they didn’t ask for, don’t deserve and can’t control…
You have Pony Power!
It’s easy for us to make this huge difference because we don’t have to do anything to grow our hair, it just happens. We may end up with short bobs, but our hair will grow back. For many going through treatment, it may not for a long while and that can affect their self-esteem.”
Who can donate?
We accept hair from people of any age, gender, hair type and hair colour as long as the hair is properly prepared and measures the correct length.
30cm and longer
High-grade ponytails are a minimum of 36cm long and virgin hair, meaning they are uncoloured and not chemically-processed. This must be measured from where the elastic band is tied (NOT from where the hair has been cut) to the tip of the hair. High-grade ponytails are incredibly special – they can be made into wigs for kids, or because they are so valuable they can help fund other life-changing programs! If you’re growing your hair specially to make a ponytail donation, just by waiting a little longer for more length or cutting your hair shorter to reach the 36cm you will make a truly special impact.
The MINIMUM length of ponytails we accept is 30cm, measured from where the elastic band is tied (NOT from where the hair has been cut) to the tip of the hair. Ponytails between 30cm and 36cm will be matched with other ponytails of similar length and condition.
Coloured/Processed Hair: We accept coloured and chemically-processed hair. Coloured and processed hair will be matched with shorter ponytails and processed hair by wig-makers.
Curly Hair: Curly hair ponytails are accepted, but must meet the minimum 20cm length without being straightened.
Layered Hair: Strands of hair shorter than 20cm within a ponytail are unusable and will be removed during the wig-making process. If your hair is very layered, we recommend waiting a couple of months to increase the viability of your donation.
Hair Extensions: We only accept 100% HUMAN HAIR extensions, as originally verified and labelled by the product supplier. We do not accept hair extensions made from any other materials.
All Hair Extensions must be prepared and donated in the same way as freshly cut ponytails. Please DO NOT include clips, bonds or tape in the donation.
30cm and longer
High-grade ponytails are a minimum of 36cm long and virgin hair, meaning they are uncoloured and not chemically-processed. This must be measured from where the elastic band is tied (NOT from where the hair has been cut) to the tip of the hair. High-grade ponytails are incredibly special – they can be made into wigs for kids, or because they are so valuable they can help fund other life-changing programs! If you’re growing your hair specially to make a ponytail donation, just by waiting a little longer for more length or cutting your hair shorter to reach the 36cm you will make a truly special impact.
The MINIMUM length of ponytails we accept is 30cm, measured from where the elastic band is tied (NOT from where the hair has been cut) to the tip of the hair. Ponytails between 30cm and 36cm will be matched with other ponytails of similar length and condition.
Coloured/Processed Hair: We accept coloured and chemically-processed hair. Coloured and processed hair will be matched with shorter ponytails and processed hair by wig-makers.
Curly Hair: Curly hair ponytails are accepted, but must meet the minimum 20cm length without being straightened.
Layered Hair: Strands of hair shorter than 20cm within a ponytail are unusable and will be removed during the wig-making process. If your hair is very layered, we recommend waiting a couple of months to increase the viability of your donation.
Hair Extensions: We only accept 100% HUMAN HAIR extensions, as originally verified and labelled by the product supplier. We do not accept hair extensions made from any other materials.
All Hair Extensions must be prepared and donated in the same way as freshly cut ponytails. Please DO NOT include clips, bonds or tape in the donation.
How to donate and what does it cost?
It's simple! Visit The Cutting Room!
All hairdressers at our salon have been specially trained to cut ponytails for donation and can securely send your donation to Sustainable Salons on your behalf (no postage required!).
The process of preparing the hair to cut is more than that of preparing for a regular trim or haircut.
The price is $139 for 16 years and over or $99 for kids to 12 years old.
You will need to arrive with your hair freshly shampooed, conditioned and dry.
The process can take between 45 to 90 minutes.
You can book by calling the salon on 96273885 or you can book online 24 hours a day by clicking here.
All hairdressers at our salon have been specially trained to cut ponytails for donation and can securely send your donation to Sustainable Salons on your behalf (no postage required!).
The process of preparing the hair to cut is more than that of preparing for a regular trim or haircut.
The price is $139 for 16 years and over or $99 for kids to 12 years old.
You will need to arrive with your hair freshly shampooed, conditioned and dry.
The process can take between 45 to 90 minutes.
You can book by calling the salon on 96273885 or you can book online 24 hours a day by clicking here.
Where do the ponytails go?
First stop: The Sustainable Salons DepotWhen ponytails arrive at the Sustainable Salons depot (either from our member salons or from individually-mailed donations), our team sorts and grades EVERY PONYTAIL BY HAND according to length, colour and hair type… this is why filling out your Ponytail Donation Form is necessary as it helps us get those pretty ponies to their destination much faster.
The ponytails need to be sorted into various categories because each recipient we distribute to has different requirements depending on how they process them for wig-making.
Sustainable Salons does not receive any funds for the collection or sorting of ponytails. We do all of this FREE OF CHARGE, so that those in need receive the maximum benefit.
Charitable Organisations: We send ponytails to charitable organisations such as Variety the Children’s Charity and the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation (AAAF) to be made into charitable wigs or to fund life-changing programs*.
As high-grade ponytails are super valuable, these organisations sell them to wig-makers and use the return to help fund life-changing programs (including providing wigs to kids!) across their amazing platforms.
Independent Wig-Makers: We also send ponytails to local, independent wig-makers to be made into charitable wigs.
These wig-makers work directly with clients they find through connections with hospitals, and local community and support groups. These clients are mostly adults, so the wig-makers can work with shorter and coloured hair because adult hairstyles rarely require the long, virgin-condition ponytails that children’s wigs do.
For your peace of mind, Sustainable Salons only sends ponytail donations to verified charities and independent wig-makers working on charitable wigs only (not-for-profit).
Although the independent wig-maker may need to charge for their labour (this remains between the wig-maker and the client), they provide the hair from Sustainable Salons free of charge to the recipient. This saves the recipient potentially thousands of dollars!
The ponytails need to be sorted into various categories because each recipient we distribute to has different requirements depending on how they process them for wig-making.
Sustainable Salons does not receive any funds for the collection or sorting of ponytails. We do all of this FREE OF CHARGE, so that those in need receive the maximum benefit.
Charitable Organisations: We send ponytails to charitable organisations such as Variety the Children’s Charity and the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation (AAAF) to be made into charitable wigs or to fund life-changing programs*.
As high-grade ponytails are super valuable, these organisations sell them to wig-makers and use the return to help fund life-changing programs (including providing wigs to kids!) across their amazing platforms.
Independent Wig-Makers: We also send ponytails to local, independent wig-makers to be made into charitable wigs.
These wig-makers work directly with clients they find through connections with hospitals, and local community and support groups. These clients are mostly adults, so the wig-makers can work with shorter and coloured hair because adult hairstyles rarely require the long, virgin-condition ponytails that children’s wigs do.
For your peace of mind, Sustainable Salons only sends ponytail donations to verified charities and independent wig-makers working on charitable wigs only (not-for-profit).
Although the independent wig-maker may need to charge for their labour (this remains between the wig-maker and the client), they provide the hair from Sustainable Salons free of charge to the recipient. This saves the recipient potentially thousands of dollars!
