How 50,000 Hindu pilgrims keep Victoria Beckham looking hot
The Globalization of Hair
Research Question:
How does the demand for virgin remy hair extensions in the US affect the hair industry in India?
From their scalp to yours• The trading of human hair in India is a $18 million
per year business• Consumers are primarily Western nations such
as the United States• In 2006 over 79,000 tons of hair was imported
into US• A large part of human hair used for hair
extensions comes from India.
Kinds of hair exports• Temple Hair• Brushed Hair
From their scalp to yours continued….• Hair collected from tonsuring halls at Hindu
temples is then bid upon by local buyers• Venkateswara temple took in $5.6 million in
auctions in 2002• Hair over 16 in long went for $193 per kilo this
year• Factory workers around India clean, separate and
fumigate through several tons of hair per year
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNPDgjDaHw0
Great Lengths International• After initial cleaning and sorting, hair re-sellers
ship product to wholesalers• One of the top wholesalers of natural hair
extensions is Great Lengths International• Great Lengths buys Indian hair locks of 16
inches for about 30 cents a strand from re-sellers• Each strand has about 200 individual pieces of
hair• Great Lengths processes the hair in its factory in
Rome
Perfection: strand by strand
• Every wholesaler has a different preparation processes
• Great Lengths International has a very specific de-pigmentation & pigmentation process
De-Pigmentation• Undergoes de-pigmentation process- special osmosis process lasting 15-20 days.• Black pigments are lifted from hair rather than bleaching• This does not damage hair, and makes for much better quality.
Pigmentation• Process a lot like Cashmere sweaters • Black pigment molecule gets replaced• Color does not fade • Bleached hair would lose color after several
washes
From Rome to Hollywood• Great Lengths sells to international distributors for about
$1.50 a strand• In U.S beauty salons, the cost for a full head’s worth of
high quality hair extensions from Great Lengths costs as much as $4000
Consumption of Hair ExtensionsPurpose For Hair extensions•Thin hair•Alopecia•Length•Color
Cost For Great lengths Hair Extensions
• Extensions can cost from $600-$3,000
• Includes hair extensions and the service to add the extensions
• Bundles cost $135
• One bundle consist of 25 pieces
• On average to complete a full head of extensions needs 5 bundles
Great lengths Target Market
• Caters to the upper scale audience• People that are expected to be able to afford Remy hair
extensions• Grade A – Best quality hair; most expensive• Grade B – of lower quality; less expensive to purchase
Why Huge Demand?•The media sets the trends
•Magazines
•Movies
•Television Shows
•Singers
The recycling of hair
• Used remy hair’s 2nd trip (or any other hair type)• Washed, recycled and reused on West African
coast
So what?!
• Only about 20 out of every 100 strands of premium hair sold abroad is temple hair