Human Hair

I went to get my monthly haircut today and got into a conversation with Michelle, my stylist, about what the hair can be used for once it has been cut and swept up. They just toss it in the bin and it goes to some landfill in Cape Town. I got home and did some research and have found 10 uses for cut human hair.

1.Wig making. Obviously this is for hair that is cut long and kept and delivered under specified conditions

2.Cosmetic testing. It would be better to test shampoo and hair products on real human hair than on those poor bunnies and mice.

3.Garden Products. A company called SmartGrow uses human hair to make mulch for vegetable gardens

4.Oil Spills. Human hair in bags is used to absorb oil on road and water when spills occur.

5.Clothes. There are a few people who have woven human hair to make fabric and clothes. There is even a bikini swimsuit made by a barber.

6.Furniture. Human hair is spun and mixed with resin to form a fiberglass like mixture that can be molded to make chairs and tables.

7.Art. There are many artists and works of art that have utilized human hair to add a different media to the work.

8.Soy Source. Human hair was once distilled to make amino acid, the most common substance in soy source. The factory was closed down.

9.Nesting. Hair can be donated to bird parks and reserves for birds to collect and use in nest building.

10.Rope. Hair can be woven together to make strands and rope. This was common in native American culture.

So next time you get your hair cut think about what you could be doing with the hair you leave behind on the floor.