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!
Hi, im a hairdresser and extensionist based in west midlands, UK. I would be interested in buying hair in all natural colours 12′-22′. Please email me on [email protected] with your details. Louise xx
Hi There
I have dark brown, wavy, extremely thick hair and I am willing to sell 16-18inches (40-47CM). my hair is healthy.
Please let me know if you would like to buy it or if you know of a place that buys it in Cape Town.
I live in Cape Town, south Africa.
Please email me on [email protected]
Thank you
Hello I have 22″ of Auburn hair. All Natural never dyed or otherwise treated. Virgin to hair selling, wondering what I can get for it. I live In Ontario Canada.
We are considered as the most Leading manufacturer and supplier of all types of human hair,brazilain hair,malysia hair,brazilian hair,mogula hair,black wavvy ,ombre colorfull ,blunt hair, mettese hairs, jamiacan hair africa hair,we supply to both big and small firm,email [email protected] or text +1(971) 225-3711
Quality: We believe in “quality over quantity” strict quality management and supervision system.
Company NameU.S.A Human Hair Manufacturer And Supplier.INC.LTD/
Contact Person:Ms. Torrey Powel
Hi
I am going for a back sack and crack on Saturday, do you think there is a market for my hair 7 should I keep the off cuts, so to speak?
Big Dave
Anyone interested in buying hair in Australia. Very very thick (hairdressers always amazed) Am prepared to cut about16 inches. Is dark brown and is virgin hair. The usual – extremely well looked after both me and my hair. I think I have only ever blow dried it myself a couple of times cause takes to long. I have been messed about previously with an offer and a fake cheque so if anyone is interested in a sensible, serious offer then please contact [email protected].
i have long, thick red hair and im looking to sell it email on my boyfriends facebook
a website that also buys european brown,light brown and blonde hair is russianhairconnections.com .. they will buy worldwide
my hair is a lot longer than in picture, this was taken 2 years ago. anyway, my hair is 46 inches long, and it is virgin, no chemicals. wavy or curly and shiny, absolutely amazing, I get lot of looks and comments all the time. how much can I sell it for.
$500 if I cut
i have a black and curly hair how much i can sell this?
My daughter has 12″ of hair she would like to sell. Please contact me at [email protected] she is 10 and has thick dark brown with natural highlights hair. She wants to sell it so she can get her braises. Her hair is clean no chemicals and never been died. We are located in Minneapolis Minnesota