Crystal Hughes Ministry • Hair & Wig Recycling Initiative
What we sweep away can become something meaningful. Discover the connection between hair, cleaner water, healthier soil, and restored dignity.
One Mission • Every Strand Matters
From wigs and salon donations to everyday barbershop clippings, our collection community puts hair to work with purpose.
Giving Back Through Hair
Our mission is to collect hair and wigs, prioritize reuse, and connect suitable materials with practical recycling opportunities. Every material has its own path: natural hair, synthetic fibers, and reusable wigs are sorted separately.
From Beauty Waste to Possibility
These are established uses and areas of research for suitable materials. A donation’s destination depends on its type, condition, and available processing partners.
FOR OUR WATER
Oil clings to the surface of natural hair. When suitable fibers are felted into mats, they can capture oil in cleanup and filtration projects, including stormwater applications.
The benefit: a useful second life for discarded natural fibers and a tool for protecting waterways.
FOR OUR SOIL
Suitable natural hair can be used as mulch or a soil amendment. Hair breaks down slowly; its nutrients become available over time. Hair mulch is also being studied for moisture retention and erosion control.
The benefit: putting a natural material to work in gardens and soil projects.
FOR OUR COMMUNITY
A donated wig that is suitable for reuse can be inspected, cleaned, repaired, and restyled. Restoration extends its useful life and supports people experiencing hair loss.
The benefit: less discarded material, more access to wigs, and renewed confidence.
FOR LASTING KEEPSAKES
Specialist laboratories can extract and purify carbon from human hair, then use it in a high-pressure, high-temperature diamond-growing process. The resulting rough diamond is cut and polished into a keepsake.
The possibility: a personal memento made using hair-derived carbon. This is a specialist service, separate from routine collection-bin recycling.
A Closer Look • Hair to Diamond
CHM does not currently offer diamond manufacturing. This section illustrates another use for human hair; personal keepsake samples should be arranged directly with a specialist rather than placed in a shared collection bin.
Explore a specialist’s process ↗Your Donation’s Journey
Keep hair and wigs clean and dry. Separate natural hair, synthetic hair, and whole wigs in labeled, sealed bags.
Materials are checked by type and condition. Reusable wigs are evaluated for restoration; natural fibers are assessed for suitable processing.
Suitable wigs can be restored. Eligible natural hair can go toward fiber projects. Other materials require a confirmed reuse or recycling outlet.
Know Your Materials
Human hair clippings and natural hair donations may be suitable for mats or soil projects, depending on length, cleanliness, and processor requirements.
Human-hair and synthetic wigs should be bagged separately for assessment. Condition determines whether a wig can be cleaned, repaired, and reused.
Bag synthetic braiding hair, extensions, and mixed fibers separately. Contact us about current outlets before a large donation. These materials are not for natural-hair garden mulch.
Please keep food, trash, sharps, chemicals, and wet or moldy materials out of donations. Contact our team before shipping or arranging a large collection. Matter of Trust’s current donation guidance does not accept wigs or synthetic extensions for its natural-fiber program.
Find Collection PartnersLearn • Lead • Make a Difference
A proposed Hair & Wig Recycling Club gives students a way to connect environmental learning with community service. Work with a teacher adviser and school leadership to develop an approved club.
Service hours depend on school approval and eligible activities.
Request a School Club PartnershipStart Your Own Chapter
A program of Crystal Hughes Ministry
Lead wig drives, collection, volunteers, and fundraising in your community.
Apply to Start a ChapterRead & Sign the Chapter Agreement
Participating Partners
Find a collection location below.
Education Partners
4810 Annapolis Road
Bladensburg, MD 20710
Collection Partners
3841 Branch Avenue, Temple Hills, MD 20748
3696 Old Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD 20746
Marlow Heights, Maryland
Contact the location directly for hours and drop-off instructions.
9900 Greenbelt Road, Suite H, Lanham, MD 20706
Retail Partners
6333 Livingston Road
Oxon Hill, MD 20745
Fundraiser · Wig Drive
Make it a wig party! Invite friends, coworkers, or your community to bring wigs and help us restore dignity through wig donation and recycling.
Choose a date and location, collect wigs in clean, sealed bags, and arrange pickup with our team.
Select “Host a wig drive” and share your event date, location, and preferred pickup time. We’ll contact you to coordinate.
Request Crystal as a SpeakerHost independently or invite Crystal. Speaking requests require a separate booking; availability and fees are confirmed in advance.
Work • Learn • Serve
Students in grades 6 and up can register for hair and wig recycling volunteer activities.
Help with sorting, collection records, administration, and community education. Service hours require school approval.
Employment & Internship OpportunitiesCollect at home. Connect your community.
$100
Collect unwanted hair, wigs, braids, weaves, and extensions at home for our Tuesday pickups.
$35 per month after the included first month.
Choose This Bin$250
Place a 40-gallon hair and wig donation bin inside your business or school.
$35 per month after the included first week.
Choose This Bin$2,500
Sponsor a metal collection bin with your logo. Placement coordinated with CHM.
Ongoing bin servicing is $35 per month.
Choose This BinTuesday pickups
Maryland pickups: Tuesdays. Request a date and time; we’ll confirm route availability.
Keep hair and wig donations separate from household trash.
We’ll collect your logo, confirm placement, and add commercial locations to our website.
All bin payments and monthly service payments go to 240-840-7545.
Support Hair & Wig Recycling
Choose a recycling fund to support collection, wig restoration, transportation, bins, or our warehouse and youth workspace.
Make Your Next Step Count
Host a collection bin, organize a wig drive, volunteer, or propose a school club. Tell us how you want to participate.
Learn more from Matter of Trust: Hair Matters · Donation FAQ · Hair-to-diamond technology · Hair mulch trials.
Illustrations are conceptual. Uses described here are educational; they are not a claim that CHM manufactures every product shown or that every donation reaches a particular project.
Crystal Hughes Ministry welcomes and serves all individuals regardless of race, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background. We are committed to equal opportunity, inclusion, and dignity for all.