The use of human hair for wigs and hair extensions has a long history. Even in ancient Egypt, the pharaohs wore wigs made of human hair to emphasize their beauty. In ancient Greece and Rome, wigs made of human hair were also very popular among nobles and wealthy citizens.

Today, human hair for wigs and hair extensions is often imported from countries such as India, China and Brazil. There, the hair is collected from women who sacrifice it for religious or traditional reasons. The hair is then cleaned, sorted and processed into wigs and hair extensions.

Real hair has the advantage that it looks and feels very natural. It can be styled and colored just like your own hair. However, real hair wigs are also more expensive than synthetic hair wigs and require regular care to maintain their quality.

There are also ethical concerns about the human hair trade. It is important to ensure that the hair is traded ethically and fairly and that the women it comes from are paid fairly for it.

Oh my god, have you ever thought about where human hair wigs come from? It's a really disturbing story.

The use of human hair in wigs dates back to ancient times, where slaves were often forced to cut their hair and sell it to rich buyers. Even in the Middle Ages, poor people were forced to sell their hair to meet their basic needs.

Today, most of the human hair used in wigs comes from countries like India, China and Brazil. Many people in these countries donate their hair for religious reasons or out of financial need.

But what about the conditions under which these people donate their hair? Unfortunately, there are cases of exploitation and poor working conditions in the hair industry. Poor people are often forced to sell their hair to feed their families and they often receive only a fraction of the actual value of their hair.

It's important to be aware of where the hair for wigs comes from and to make sure it's ethically and fairly traded. We should also ask ourselves if it's really necessary to use real hair in wigs when there are so many high-quality synthetic options available.

So think twice before buying a human hair wig and try to choose ethical and sustainable options.

Positive aspects of the human hair trade:

1. Improved living conditions: Fair trade in human hair can help improve the living and working conditions of people at the beginning of the supply chain. Farmers and employees benefit particularly in countries where fair and secure working and wage conditions are lacking.

2. Stabilization of income: The minimum price set by Fairtrade organizations stabilizes the income of producers, enabling a better quality of life for their families.

3. Reduction of child labor: Fairtrade projects help to reduce child labor. Cooperating farmers often offer their children free education.

Negative aspects of the human hair trade:

1. Dependence on certain dealers: Farmers and workers who are part of a Fairtrade system become dependent on certain traders due to the price guarantee. This can hinder the further development of new product markets.

2. High costs for end consumers: Fairtrade products are more expensive than conventional items. However, the additional profit does not always go directly to the farmers.

3. Discrimination against non-organized farmers: Farmers and workers outside the Fairtrade system can suffer financial losses and a loss of quality of life.

Sources:

• Interim review
• Focus