Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Make money by selling your hair
Reading Time: 5 minutesDid you know your hair has value? You can actually make money selling your hair! But how do I sell my hair today?
Well, we all remember the scene in Little Women when Jo sells her hair because the family needs to make money. While they all cry together over her lost locks, they’re all consoled by the much needed hard cash it’s got them.
But this is not just the stuff of fiction. Scientists have decoded DNA and cloned sheep, but still can’t cure baldness! As a result wigs, hair extensions, and hair pieces have never been so popular. If you’re willing to get a snip, you can make a pretty penny from those luscious tresses.
Sell my hair for a wig: Start Growing and Grooming
Before thinking about selling your hair you’ll first have to start growing and grooming. Most companies will want hair that has absolutely no chemical treatments so your hair can’t be coloured, permed, highlighted or tinted. You’ll also need plenty of it – at least six inches.
Hair must be clean, healthy and shiny. Cigarette smoke or traces of drugs taken will linger in your hair long after it’s washed.
Remember if you’re thinking: can I sell my hair to a wig company? That actual wig makers are hair experts, so if they detect damaged hair they’ll toss it, and you’ll be sporting a crop without getting any cash.
Unusual natural hair colours are in for a treat, as they command the highest prices. The healthier your hair is, the more you can get for it.
Before you chop of your lovely locks make sure to contact a wig seller and find out how much selling your hair type will earn you. This way, you can see whether it’s really worth chopping it all off.
Sell my hair UK: Some tips for keeping your locks healthy
- Regular trims will keep broken and split ends away (trimming every six to eight weeks is best, but remember not too much!)
- Remember healthy body = healthy hair. Make sure to get your calcium and protein for strong hair
- Wash out all product from your hair at night, there are loads of chemicals in them that dry out your hair
- Give up your hair dryers, curling irons or flattening irons, hairspray and other styling products now! These dry hair out and cause hair breakage and split ends
- Instead of blow drying, towel dry
- Braid your hair overnight and in the morning you’ll have lovely waves without any of the damage curling irons will cause
- Though you might be tempted, don’t brush your hair more than twice daily and use a high quality vent brush when you do
- Oils like rosemary oil, cedar wood oil, juniper berry oil, and lavender oil will help lock-in your hair’s moisture. At night apply the oil, braid your hair and you’ll be moisturising your hair. This way it won’t be breaking while you sleep
- Go au natural – Beer and egg whites make excellent hair conditioners.
Did you know you can also make money selling breast milk?! Find out how here.
Sell my hair online: start Marketing
Market your new product online. Firstly, we recommend you try buyandsellhair.com, a classified ad site for buyers and sellers of human hair worldwide. To advertise is quite cheap, only $14.50 for three months, and all transactions are managed through PayPal. They take no commission on completed sales and everything you make will be yours, so it is worth trying out.
Otherwise, hop on Gumtree and you’ll find lots of ads from wigmakers willing to pay your asking price for your hair. If you’re going to post an ad on advertising your hair you’ll need to include:
- Clear, accurate pictures (mostly of length)
- Include a description of hair length, colour, quality, ethnic type of hair
- Contact details.
Keep it simple; there are already wigmakers advertising for hair on Gumtree, so you don’t need to waste too much time on writing your own ones. Responding to ads can be just as effective.
Remember – wigmakers aren’t the only ones looking for hair. Market yourself in places that others haven’t yet thought of like hairstylists who work with extensions. Hair colleges will also need human hair supplies and even high quality paint brushes are made with human hair.
Look up your local hair colleges. Make some calls and find out what they’re willing to pay for your hair. Remember that your advert details apply here too. You might also be thinking: can I sell my hair at a hair salon? So it may be worth trying them as well. Keep in mind that people will want to know the condition, length, colour, quality, and ethnic type of your hair before they buy. That may take some time to research but the pay-off could be big.
Sell my hair online: How do I make the cut?
If you’re ready to take the plunge and chop those locks it’s important to remember that hair-buyers are very specific about how your hair should be cut.
Here’s advice from HairHarvest.co.uk:
“If you are interested in selling your hair to us, there are two ways to proceed. You are more than welcome to go to your local hairdresser and tell them you are going to sell your hair and that you need a ponytail/ponytails cut off. It can be one ponytail at the back or various ponytails positioned around the scalp to get maximum length from the hair. We emphasise that the hair MUST BE EXTREMELY TIGHTLY SECURED IN A PONYTAIL/PONYTAILS as we need the hair to be root to tip perfect. We cannot accept loose hair. Please do not plait your ponytail(s), as we will need to assess them in their natural condition. You then send the hair to us by post.
Just place the hair in a plastic bag with your name, address, telephone number, email address and the full name of who you would like us to pay the cheque to (We can also pay by PAYPAL for international payments).”
Selling your hair online – How much can you expect to make?
Selling your hair can be very lucrative. Bloomsbury Wigs will pay up to £200 for your hair. They’ll even cut it off on the spot for you. Before you picture some mad scientist coming at you with clippers – they just cut off your ponytail.
The main hair buyer in the UK, Banbury Postiche (Wigs UK), pays up to £7 per 25 grams of hair. The longer your hair, the better the price!
You may want to try other ways of selling your hair, and may be wondering: can I sell my hair near me? Get on Gumtree where several wigmakers are looking to buy hair and are open to negotiations. The buyers could also be very close to you too – some are even willing to buy children’s hair, so you can score some cash from your kids’ locks too.
See some other great ways you can make money by selling your body here!
Useful Links
Now check out our article that spills the beans on the best ways to make money – 10 easy ways to make quick cash!
I have hair down past my bottom. I am 52 years old and I am just getting tired of it. its getting to much forme to handle. Yes, I am a smoker.. my hair is very thick. I am starting to get grey. and yes I have dyed it twice in my life time. so I do not know if it is even worth anythijng. will someone help me out.. I need the money so bad.. I have rent to pay and am on SSI as I am termally ill… can soneone please advice me.. Thank you.. ooooh my hair… Read more »
Cody do get in touch with Banbury Postiche. Tell them about your hair and see what they say. It sounds like you might as well sell it if it’s that long. All the best, Jasmine
hey can you help me to sell my hair? im from philippines.
Hi, I was wanted to know if you know anything about earning money by taking part in medical trials. And if you know and good/trusted websites. Preferrably in Birmingham/West Midlands area please.
20 in. + Natural,unprocessed med.blonde with highlights.Thick,straight well-cared, for placed in bun or ponytail. WILL SHAVE ! Have to sell for health issues : ( BEST OFFER ! (480) 694 – 3072
Contact me if near Minneapolis and want to sell your hair. Jimbob761130(at)hotmail.com.
i would like to sell my hair and i like to know how, i never sell my hair before, and this is my first time,
If you are near Minneapolis, contact me to sellyour hair. [email protected]
my hair is natural ringlets 8-12 inches long i want to sell any offers to shave? [email protected]
I don’t know exactly but why not give Banbury Postiche a call and ask them. It’s a good idea to do it for charity – you could let your local paper know too as they would probably be interested. That way you could get some publicity for it and make more cash.
My hair is 25 inch long from my shoulder. It’s dark brown. I haven’t dyed or used any chemicals. I used to love long hair but now it’s quite troublesome as I don’t get much time to care for it. I want to cut my hair but not waste it. Do any of u know how much money would I get If i have a cut? coz i am organizing a charity event.
Hi Sweksha. If you wanting a free haircut and sell your hait for a good price drop me a line at [email protected]. Thanks Dave
Hello，I’m selling 26-29in of my healthy, thick and shiny dark brown virgin hair.My hair thickness is 4.2 inches. I am a student in the university now. My hair is very shiny and soft and straight! My hair has never been dyed, premed or chemically treated and it is very well maintained. I always use shampoo and a lot of condition my hair with Pantene every 3-4 days and always let it dry naturally. I always brush my hair after washing and make it straight like picture. My hair quality is very good and even the end of the hair is… Read more »
If your hair is till available, please email: [email protected]
Iam half mexican and half puertorican and i have a 20 inch ponytail it is brown with shiny golden natural highlights in it iam trying to sell it is virgin hair it is very shiny because i take very good care of it and take alot of vitamin E i wash it every two days to keep the natural oils in it.so make me an offer asap and will see what happens from there
I have 8-9 inches to spare if thats any good? I used to be very blond but now it’s a mix of dark and light brown with blond streaks. Has never been dyed or had fancy straitners and whatnot on it. I tend to towel dry my hair and that is it.
Haha! I’m in serious need of a haircut. I don’t feel like going to my local because they waste more time chatting than cutting. Anyone else get that with their local? Haha.
Drop me a line if your still wanting a haircut and make some money at the same time. Dave
Hi Dave..I would like to sell human hair 10-12 inches black virgin hair..If interested drop me an email. I am in UK currently.
WE BUY HAIR FROM ALL OVER. EMAIL US [email protected]
Sir i am hegde from india i have tons of hair how can i sell that