1.  The human hair trade is highly profitable.

The human hair trade is highly profitable, valued at billions of dollars. Hair is in such high demand that there have been extreme incidents, like gangs forcibly cutting off a woman’s hair. It’s used for wigs, hair extensions, fake eyelashes, and even in products like fertilizers and amino acids used in baking dough for foods like pizza and bagels.

2. Most of the human hair used in Vietnam lace wigs and extensions is sourced from India and China, as well as Vietnamese hair vendors.

Devotees of various religions visit temples like the Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala, India, where they participate in a ritual of devotion by shaving their heads. Hundreds of barbers work tirelessly, shaving a new person’s head every five minutes, resulting in the ground being littered with “bloody scalps and hair balls.” The temple collects these strands, some as long as 30 inches, and auctions them off.

3. Temple hair can be priced as high as $700 per pound in the Vietnamese hair market.

However, when purchased at auction, the hair is often not in good condition. It may contain “sweat, blood, and lice,” and is stored in warehouses that have a strong odor of mildew and fungus.

4. Crafting a high-end Vietnam lace wig requires several days of meticulous work..

First, the hair must be untangled and sorted. If there are lice, they need to be carefully removed from the hair. Then, the hair undergoes washing, drying, and dyeing processes. Finally, it is used to create a Vietnam lace wig.

5. Economic factors are inseparable from the hair industry.

Throughout history, the flow of hair has consistently been from the poor to the wealthy. Today, this trend continues as hair primarily sourced from China and India is sold predominantly in the United States, Europe, and Africa.

6. Individuals with long, naturally blonde hair can earn up to $1,500 when selling their hair..

According to a wig retailer interviewed by Priceonomics, a woman from Indiana received a substantial sum for her hair, which was subsequently used to create a Vietnam lace wig priced at $8,000..

7. Short hair is also collected and sold in the market.

It’s not as expensive or sought after, and is mainly utilized for industrial purposes.

8. Consumers purchasing Vietnam lace wigs are generally less concerned about the ethical sourcing or manufacturing processes behind them.

While the majority of human hair originates from India and China, only a small fraction comes from temples, according to a regional minister for textiles and commerce in India who spoke to The Guardian in 2006. The minister admitted uncertainty about the origins of the remaining hair. Despite this mystery, consumers are primarily concerned with the hygiene of the hair rather than its undisclosed sourcing.

9. Synthetic wigs continue to improve in quality.

With the Chinese and Indian economies significantly stronger today than a decade ago, their citizens are wealthier, resulting in fewer hair donors available. However, this trend has spurred companies to innovate and develop alternative methods for creating wigs and extensions that can be styled as effectively as real human hair.