Mon, 17 Feb 2025

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 Hair: 'It’s just thrown away but it's gold'

India is the world's biggest exporter of human hair but it wants more of the lucrative wig market.

* India is the world's largest exporter of human hair, supplying 85% of global demand.
* The nation's wig-making industry is worth billions, but most Indian hair collected by pickers is sold to local traders for a meager price.
* A kilogram of non-Remy hair can fetch between $0.80 and $1, while Remy hair, considered high-value, can sell for thousands of dollars per kilogram.
* Most of the Indian hair is exported to China where it's made into wigs worth billions.
* India needs to invest in automated sorting systems, hair treatment procedures, and innovative production techniques to make its wig industry more competitive.
* Some Indian businesses, such as Diva Divine Hair, are trying to create high-quality hair extensions and wigs that can appeal to a broader range of customers.
* The industry is shifting towards acceptance, with wigs and extensions now openly discussed in India.
* New technologies, including 3D-printed wigs and digital colour-matching tools, offer highly personalized options for customers.
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