Lock of Love: A Scam

By Conny, 21st Nov 2010 | Follow this author | RSS Feed | Short URL http://nut.bz/23uqc011/
Posted in Wikinut>Writing>Columns & Opinions

Donating hair to cancer patients may seem like a good idea, but would you feel the same if you knew that Locks of Love is a scam?

Lock of Love ... A Scam

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 is a good choice for cancer charity donations.

By Locks of Love own admission, the organization is extremely hesitant to process hair that is received in the mail. In an email 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. Locks of Love is not prepared to pay for this type of expense.

By the spokesperson's own admission, hair that is received in the mail or dropped off at the office, is sold to wig manufacturers in California who have the facilities to cleanse hair. Most of the hair ends up in the wardrobe studios of Hollywood where it is worn by the stars 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.

Lock of Love’s claim 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 temporarily. Their baldness is as a direct result from chemo and radiation treatment. Once the treatment has 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 draw up an 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