You can even turn your hair into locks of gold
THOSE fortunate enough to be able to grow a full head of hair can consider selling their mane for money – at least once in a lifetime.
Wig makers pay as much as £200 for a long ponytail of hair. European locks are particularly sought after with blondes and redheads most in demand. The hair is turned into toupees for those in need of the extra thatch – including cancer victims who have lost hair due to chemotherapy treatment.
Natalie Lewis, 28, from Ealing, West London, had her 20-inch strawberry blonde mane cut off earlier this month, donating the proceeds she received from hair buying company Hair Harvest to charity. She raised more than £1,500 for Cancer Research from sponsorship and selling her hair – shaved off at the Barber Streisand barber in Finsbury, North London.
The theatre costume maker says: ‘Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way – whether friends or family. I am fortunate to be able to grow a full head of hair and because it is an unusual colour, I thought it would make a wig for someone who could really use it.’
She adds: ‘It is a bit of a shock when you look in the mirror after your hair is cut off – but it soon grows back. The benefit to those who need a wig makes it all worthwhile.’
Not all hair is in demand. Though buyers are willing to buy dyed hair, they usually prefer it to be free of products and not to have been artificially curled or have split ends. Hairdryers are also worth avoiding as they can damage the strands – towel dry and do not overbrush your hair, though you can occasionally oil it.
Graham Wake, owner of hair trader Bloomsbury Wigs, says: ‘We buy hair off anyone. We pay up to £200 for 150 grams of ponytail – but we prefer it between 14 and 20 inches long as this is a good length for us to make wigs from.’
He adds: ‘It is important hair is ethically sourced. We need to know exactly where it has come from to stamp out people exploitation. Young hair from those aged between ten and 20 is the best quality but older hair with strands of grey in it is also in demand.
‘The wigs we make are often used for those who have suffered from hair loss due to conditions such as alopecia or cancer treatment.’
Hair should be cut off as a tight ponytail – and bundled up to be sold like this. Companies such as Hair Harvest – which is owned by Bloomsbury Wigs – will value hair if you post it to them. It will be returned if you do not like the price offered.
It can also cut hair off for you at its Bloomsbury Wigs outlet near Covent Garden, London.