Artisanal and charitable work: volunteers make wigs from donated hair for women undergoing cancer treatment in Argentina

By Paula Galinsky

It’s an artisanal task: they receive donated hair and sew it in rows using a machine. Then, each layer of hair is hand-attached to a cap similar to a swim cap but made of microtulle. Once the wig takes shape, they wash, dry, and cut it (the look can include bangs or layers). The work is powered by passion, with around 12 women from Baradero, Buenos Aires Province, participating.

The wigs are mostly for women undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. “Our goal is to help them recognize themselves in the mirror again, so those going through a tough time can feel better”, says Daniela Mangini (35), one of the founders of the volunteer group Doná Cabello Argentina.

They are called Doná Cabello because, in the beginning, they only collected and distributed donated hair. But then they realized they could do more. “There used to be two organizations in the country that made wigs, but sadly, they no longer exist. We started promoting hair donation in 2010, but over time, we decided to get more involved”, shares Daniela, who, in 2015, began sewing hair into curtains that were later turned into wigs.

“Sometimes treatments are tough, and we try to focus on the positive and keep moving forward, bringing a smile to someone’s face and helping them with this aspect that’s so important,” adds Daniela, noting that they also provide wigs for other medical conditions that cause hair loss.

She says it’s ideal for women to travel to Baradero to try on the wigs. “It’s not like buying a pair of shoes; it’s better if they try it on, although in some cases that’s not possible, and we have to send it by mail”, explains the volunteer, who also says that the donated hair often arrives by mail as well.

They have a workshop where, every other Saturday, they welcome people seeking wigs. They usually have about 150 wigs in stock. Before the pandemic, they gathered there to make them, but after COVID-19, the process changed, and now most of the wig-making is done from home.

Another important fact is that the group formed out of a desire to help: “We weren’t friends, we came together for this cause through social media”, Daniela says about the project, which is nearing its tenth anniversary.

“Some in the group had sewing experience, but none in hairdressing. We try to handle the hair as little as possible, and our priority is that the wigs are comfortable”, she assures.

They’ve made more than 600 wigs and say it takes about a week to craft each one. They also receive unused wigs that they refurbish and redistribute. They talk about lending the wigs, not giving them away, because the idea is that women use them as long as needed, then return them to Baradero.

Daniela clarified that they don’t accept money donations, their most urgent needs right now is hair. “We’re receiving very little hair because of the high cost of mailing it. That’s why we’ve set up a collection point in the Belgrano neighbourhood of Buenos Aires”, she explains.

The donated hair must be at least 25 centimetres long. “Some people cut their hair every year and send it to us—not just women, men too. The idea is to get more people to donate consciously. That’s why we want to raise awareness, as not everyone knows a project like this exists”, adds Daniela.

Angélica’s story

Angélica is one of the women who experienced firsthand the importance of this network. “In 2019, I was diagnosed with cancer. I felt terribly desperate because I thought it was just a benign cyst. I remember one of the things they warned me about was that I would lose my hair after the first chemotherapy session”, she recalls.

She says she didn’t have the money to buy a wig, so she looked for options on social media and came across *Doná Cabello Argentina*. “I contacted them on a Wednesday, they asked for information about my condition, and the next day they confirmed that I could travel to Baradero that Saturday to pick up a wig”, she notes.

She went with her nieces and said that meeting the volunteers was “wonderful.” “People can’t imagine how painful it is to go through this and lose your hair; having a wig is fundamental”, she says.

As the doctors had warned, Angélica lost her hair. And during the time of her chemo, she wore a wig. But fortunately, after completing treatment, her hair grew back, and she returned the wig. “Now I hope it’s being used by another woman who needs it. If anyone in that situation reads this, I recommend not shutting yourself off and seeking help”, she emphasises.

Lucía’s hair

On the other side of this charitable chain are people like 13-year-old Lucía, who decided to donate her hair. “It was a really nice experience knowing that a change I wanted to make would benefit someone else”, she told Lupa do Bem.

“I loved the feeling that my hair wouldn’t end up in the trash at the salon but would be used for something good, to make another woman feel beautiful”, says Lucía, who plans to keep her hair long for a while but hopes to donate it again in the future.

How to collaborate or request a wig

You can contact the volunteer group through Instagram at @donacabelloargentina. In addition to hair, they accept fabrics for wig-making, used wigs, and shampoo.

There’s also the option to help by offering transportation or covering the cost of shipping hair or wigs by mail.