Locks of Love provides children with hairpieces and their subsequent repairs free of charge or on a sliding scale based on the finances of those responsible for the children. One of the most common reasons people lose hair is due to alopecia areata. It is a common disorder, with an incidence of 17.2 per 100,000 population. It is characterized by the sudden appearance of sharply defined round or oval patches of hair loss. Although the condition can occur at any age, the first attack usually appears in patients under 25 years of age.
Hair is of minimal functional benefit to humans.
Hair disorders are not in themselves life-threatening to patients. However, cosmetic and associated psychological consequences of hair growth abnormalities are frequently a source of great concern to children, adolescents and their parents. This is why Locks of Love was formed. Donors provide the hair, volunteers staff the office, and the manufacturer hand-assembles each piece, which requires approximately four months. It takes approximately 12 ponytails in order to make one hairpiece.