Initially founded in 2010 and inspired by the voices of hospitalized children, families, and healthcare workers, The Healing Hair Initiative provides donated hair care items—such as conditioner, detangler, brushes, and hair ties—to help ease tangles, offer comfort, and protect each child’s dignity and identity throughout their medical journey.

Hospital stays can lead to significant hair matting and damage, especially for children with long or textured hair. Limited mobility, unfamiliar routines, and extended time in bed can make even basic hair care difficult.

Many hospitals only provide shampoo and thin plastic combs, which aren’t designed to manage tangles, long or textured hair. Without access to the right tools, detangling becomes painful, time-consuming, or impossible. In many cases, knots must be cut out, leading to unnecessary hair loss, loss of confidence, and added emotional stress during an already difficult time.

This initiative is designed to support children who don’t have access to essential hair care items—whether due to cost, forgetfulness when rushing a sick child to care, or because their caregivers cannot leave the bedside. By making these items readily available, we help families stay focused on what matters most: their child’s health, comfort, and sense of self.