Pakistanis catching up on women’s hair trade

Unconventional source of income gaining popularity in Punjab

RAWALPINDI:

Although unorthodox, women’s combed-out hair is slowly becoming a valuable source of earning because it fetches high prices in the global beauty market.

The hair is eventually exported to China, where it is used for making wigs.

A hair collector, Zubair Arshad, told The Express Tribune that they prefer hair that falls out while brushing, as it creates the best quality hairpieces. He added he is always on the lookout for good quality hair, which they purchase for Rs4,000 per kg from women in the country.

The collector shared that he usually sells hair to dealers for Rs7,000 per kg, and some of these dealers sell them to the custom clearing agents for up to Rs10,000 per kg. The custom agents then supply them to China at Rs15,000 per kg - boasting large profit margins for all those involved.

Another hair collector, Nadeem Khan, said he doesn’t collect the hair that is cut at beauty parlours or salons, as it is useless for them.

Instead, hair that naturally falls out from follicles constitutes their bread and butter.

A hair dealer, Mushtaq Khan, said he was involved in the business for the past three years, and that it was becoming more popular with each passing day. He said that earlier, women used to dispose of hair, but now, they prefer to save it in shopping bags.

He added that the hair fallout was also collected from beauty salons, and the workers there secured them separately.

He said that almost all beauty parlours managed to amass around one-kg monthly, acquiring around 250grams per customer.

Khan said the business had become quite popular in Pakistan, and the wigs made of hair fall out now fetch around Rs25,000 – Rs100,000 in the country.

Lastly, he said that up to 10 consignments were sent to China from Islamabad International Airport (IIA) three times a week.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2021.