Why take part
Blood cancer is Australia's hidden cancer crisis. Today, there are 150,000 families facing blood cancer, and 17 Australians will lose their life. Every year, thousands of Australians step up to lop off their locks and raise funds in support of those affected.
Every dollar helps provide families with the support they need, while powering critical research projects. We’ve also partnered with Sustainable Salons to help you donate your hair to be made into a wig for Australians with medically induced hair loss. And if your hair isn’t long enough for a ponytail, it can still be used to make hair booms that soak up oil spills in our oceans.
01
Sign up
Sign up to the World’s Greatest Shave online as an individual or as part of a team. Then choose to Cut.
02
Set up your fundraising page
Once you’re in, decide when you’re going to Cut and your fundraising target, and add a photo and message on your page. Let others know why you’re Cutting your hair. And then share your profile far and wide.
03
Start organising while the funds roll in
This is where the fun begins. Organise your World's Greatest Shave event – the bigger the better. Ask friends and family to join you, or donate, and watch the funds come rolling in.
04
Make it count
When your big day arrives, all that’s left to do is lop off those locks. Enjoy it surrounded by those that matter, and remember to share photos, videos, and your page – so your hairy sacrifice gets the reward it deserves.
FAQS
All you need to know about donating your hair!
How do I donate hair?
Ponytails that are a minimum of 20cm long can be donated to help create a wig.
How do you go about it? Make sure the hair is dry, then section it and secure each ponytail with a hair tie. Then plait each ponytail, tie it tightly at the bottom and cut 1-2cm above the hair tie. Place the hair in a zip lock bag and send to:
World’s Greatest Shave Ponytails
c/o Sustainable Salons
GPO Box 322
SYDNEY NSW 2001
If you’re getting a professional to cut your hair, try to head to a ‘Sustainable Salon’. These salons take care of donating your hair to help make a wig for Australians experiencing medically induced hair loss, including people with blood cancer. For hair that isn’t 20cm long, the hair is transformed into compost or put into a hair boom – which are used to clean oil spills at sea. How cool!
Whether you’re cutting your hair at a Sustainable Salon, another hairdresser or are getting a mate to do it – print off this ponytail donation kit, which has all the info you’ll need on the day.
Where can I find my nearest Sustainable Salon?
To find your nearest Sustainable Salon, take a look at the salon locator.
Can you donate dyed or bleached hair?
Yes! Sustainable Salons accepts chemically treated/coloured ponytail donations that are a minimum of 20cm long.
Is there a minimum length for donated hair?
Yes, ponytails must be a minimum of 20cm in length to be able to be transformed into a charitable wig.
How do I donate my hair for cancer? What happens to it?
When you donate hair to Sustainable Salons, it’s sent directly to wigmakers and made into charitable wigs for Australians experiencing medically induced hair loss.
Or, if it’s not long enough, the hair is transformed into compost or even into floating hair booms which absorb oil spills at sea.
Where your fundraising goes
Big or small, every donation matters – and helps the Leukaemia Foundation support Australians living with blood cancer today, while investing in a better tomorrow.
Last year, the World's Greatest Shave community made this life-changing support possible:
876 families provided with 44,280 nights of accommodation close to treatment.
910 families helped with financial assistance to help with the high costs of blood cancer.
2,079 people provided with transport assistance to get to and from life-saving treatment.
9 new research projects funded, with more than $3.3m committed to new research.
Don't want to Cut your hair?
Colour your hair
Platinum blonde, fiery red or maybe rainbow? Your splash of colour will be a beacon of hope for those facing blood cancer.
Find out more Sign up
Shave your head
Our signature dish, and the ultimate bucket list item. Experience the buzz of Shaving your head in the ultimate act of support.
Find out more Sign upTeamwork makes the dream work
Bigger impact, more fun, and a huge, shared buzz. Sign up with friends, family and workmates
Start a team
Share the experience. You'll be the Team Captain and can invite other people to join.
Join a team
Know someone with an existing World's Greatest Shave team? Search for their team to join.
Signing up as an individual not in a team? No problem, sign up here.
What's it like to Cut?
“After 5 years of growing it, I donated 90cm of [my] hair to be made into a wig. Thank you, Mum, for giving me the idea. As hard as it was to chop it off, compared to your eleven-year battle, this is the least I could do."
