Giving back with a haircut!

Welcome back, amazing humans! 

If you've been keeping up on our socials, you know that I went and chopped off my hair for a good cause not too long ago. I wanted to spread the news about this amazing cause so that brings us to this week's story about the Ponytail Project.

What is the Ponytail Project?

The Ponytail Project is a student-led fundraising campaign that began in 2015 at St Margaret's Anglican Girls School in Ascot, Brisbane, inspired by a parent in the school community who was diagnosed with breast cancer. Students initiated this campaign by cutting off their ponytails to support cancer-impacted individuals. The project gained significant support in its first year and became an annual campaign.

Let’s have a peek at what the Ponytail Project has accomplished!

• Since 2018, over 48,000 people have raised over $2.6 million for families affected by cancer.
• The Ponytail Project has recycled over 20,000 ponytails since 2015!
• Over $4 million has been raised overall for Cancer Council Queensland.

Go, girls!!

How does the Ponytail Project work?

To get involved in the Ponytail Project,

1. Register online,
2. Grow your hair for at least 7 inches (about 20 cm)
3. Meanwhile, raise money for what you are doing. Not only will the donation save lives, but it will also spread the word about this project.
4. Schedule a haircut at a participating salon (see here). Your ponytail will then be sent to Sustainable Salons depot, where it will be sorted, graded, and recycled into wigs.

A donation to the Ponytail Project can make a real difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families. For example:

• A donation of $50 can provide a wig or turban to a cancer patient who has lost their hair due to treatment.
• A donation of $100 can help to purchase fuel for the Ponytail Project's volunteer transport shuttle service, which provides free transportation to and from cancer treatment appointments.
• A donation of $250 can help to offer laboratory supplies for cancer research or financial assistance to a cancer patient who is unable to work or is struggling financially.
• And a donation of $500 can help to fund clinical trials for new cancer treatments or the annual training of volunteers.

What type of hair do they accept?

The good news is that Sustainable Salons accepts hair donations from all ages, genders, hair types, and hair colours, as long as it is about 20 cm.

However, don't worry if you are not sure if your hair qualifies for the wig production. Your ponytail will always have a valuable purpose. Hair clippings (ponytails shorter than 20cm) find their way into the Hair Boom Project, supporting research efforts. They may also play a role in future oil absorption during environmental crises on land or at sea, or they can be repurposed into compost.

The only hair they don't accept is wet hair, dreadlocks, synthetic hair or loose hair.

Every year, 4,000 ponytails are needed to make enough wigs for those living without hair as due to medically-induced hair loss-conditions. Are you keen to be part of this inspiring initiative and #rockthechop? You can do good and rock a new ‘do at the same time here

If you are after some more good news, you are in the right place! You might love our feel-good Earth news story about Australia's vape ban or that the Ozone layer is making a comeback!

Thank you for being part of our community! We are doing so much good together ❤️

With love, Ellie