Cover story: Crores are earned from falling hair

In Punita Nagar-Vaidya Rata, women's long hair is still considered a measure of their beauty in many places. Long hair is considered a symbol of beauty of Indian women and this hair of Indian women is proving to be the center of attraction for the whole world. Very few people know that India is a major exporter of human hair to the world. Our country is the largest exporter of hair in the world. In fact, in China, our rival country in this field, people have slightly thicker hair, but in our country, people have thinner hair than others. In such a situation, the demand for hair of the people of our country is very high. In such a situation, let us know how much hair is exported from India to the world every year? Fallen hair is considered 'black gold' Indian hair is sold as 'black gold' in the world market. The highest demand in the market is 'Virgin Hair' and 'Remy Hair'. What is this you may ask? Hair that is long and free from chemicals is called 'virgin hair'. Hair that maintains its natural direction from top to bottom is called 'remy hair'. The hair found in Indian temples and combed in our homes fulfills both these parameters. Indian hair is very fine and has a slightly wavy texture. This is why it matches the hair of Europeans. The demand for Indian hair is increasing rapidly all over the world. Today, India has become a major supplier of human hair to the world. Indian hair is sent to China, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Burma. The demand for wigs is increasing worldwide, earning millions. The growing need of cancer patients is also one of the reasons. According to the Global Trade Research Initiative, hair exports from India were worth $682 million (approximately Rs. 57 billion) in 2023. There is a big market for Indian hair in Europe and America. According to data provided by data analyst company Statista, India was the largest exporter of human hair in the world in 2021. India's share in global exports was 92 percent. According to statistics, around 600 tonnes of hair is produced every year from the Tirumala Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. Hair that breaks when you wash or comb your hair also accounts for a large share of exports. 4,000 rupees per kilogram of hair, depending on the quality, up to 4,000 rupees per kilogram of hair is paid. A ferio buys 500 grams to one and a half kilograms of hair a day, mostly women's hair. Generally only hair larger than five inches is purchased. According to reports, Ferio pays women according to their weight and collects women's hair from door to door. Apart from this, hair is also purchased directly from salons and parlors. According to a report by hair products company Nielsen, this business is growing at a rate of 10 percent every year. What happens to hair loss? A lost head of hair costs in crores. Ferias go from house to house to collect hair. These people buy hair and sell it to local traders. Local traders sell it to traders in Kolkata, Chennai and Andhra Pradesh. These places are considered as strongholds of foreign traders. A large number of these hairs also go to Kolkata and from there 90 percent of the hairs are sent to China. Gujarat hair is in high demand and is considered number one in quality because the hair here is strong and shiny. This hair is used for transplants and making wigs. Fallen hair is cleaned and kept in chemical. This treated hair is sent to China. And then it is used directly. Before making wigs, the hair is sent to countries like Myanmar and Bangladesh. Here they are sorted into piles of hair of similar length and color. More than 70 percent of wig manufacturing factories are currently located in China. The world's largest wig manufacturing factory is located in Wuchang, China. The city is also known as the capital of wig making. In which industries is human hair used? Human hair can be cleaned and used to make synthetic wigs, eyelashes, hair extensions, beards and moustaches. Industries producing such beauty hair accessories are among the largest global human hair industries. Making Makeup Brushes Human hair is also often used to make cosmetic brushes because they blend makeup products easily. Straight and smooth hair is always preferred in these hair manufacturing industries as it gives better results. Testing of Haircare Products Every haircare product is tested several times before it is released to the public. In these circumstances human hair is often used in laboratories as test material for various hair care products. This stuff toy human hair is very silky, stretchy and has good thermal insulation. These qualities make it suitable for use in household items such as toys and hairpin cushions. Not only this, human hair is also used in the manufacture of jackets and rugs in India and other countries as well. Making textiles Human hair has high tensile strength which makes it a suitable material for making textiles. In Arunachal Pradesh, India, traditional people mix yak hair with human hair and cotton to make cloth. Medical Industry Pharmaceutical and medical industries also take full advantage of the uniqueness of human hair. Normal human hair contains about 20 amino acids that are extracted by hydrolysis of a certain volume of hair. And some of these amino acids are a boon to the medical world. L-cysteine ​​in human hair contains many chemical derivatives that can be useful in the manufacture of pharmaceutical formulations and some cosmetics. Asian hair contains more L-cysteine ​​than any other hair type, because most of their hair is black. Food Industry L-cysteine ​​extracted from human hair is also used in the food industry. It is an amino acid that is used as an additive to increase the shelf life of bread and is also used to add to pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, etc. Manure Human hair is a rich source of nitrogen, making it an excellent fertilizer for plants. In some parts of India, human hair is used as a natural fertilizer to improve soil quality and promote plant growth. Human hair is also used to make handicrafts like dolls, jewelry and decorations. In some parts of India, artists use human hair to create intricate designs and patterns. Musical Instruments Human hair is used to make strings for some types of musical instruments such as violins and guitars. The hair fibers are twisted together to form a strong and durable string that produces a unique sound. Virgin Hair Category of Human Hair in the Business Market: This refers to hair that has not been chemically treated or processed in any way. It is the highest quality of hair and often the most expensive. Remy Hair : This type of hair is collected from a single donor, with all hair cuticles aligned in the same direction. Non-Ramy hair: Non-Ramy hair is collected from multiple donors and its cuticles may be oriented in different directions. Synthetic Hair: This type of hair is made from synthetic materials and is designed to look and feel like natural hair. Colored Hair: Hair can be colored to achieve a variety of shades and tones, from natural-looking hues to bold and vibrant colors.

Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).