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 Y’ALL INTERESTED WITH MY 31 INCHES LONG DARK SILKY SMOOTH HAIR WITH GREAT VOLUME, JUST ENOUGH THICKNESS, AND NEVER HAD TICKS OR ANYTHING RELATED TO THOSE PESTS. NEVER HAD CHEMICAL TREATMENTS. BEEN MODELING FOR LOCAL HAIR SHAMPOO COMMERCIALS HERE IN MANILA,PHILIPPINES FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS NOW.
REASON FOR SELLING: (KIND OF PERSONAL)AND WANNA HAVE A NEW LOOK,IM THINKING OF GOING FOR A TOMBOYISH LOOK. I DONT WANNA WASTE MY HAIR THAT IVE TAKEN CARED OF FOR 11 YEARS NOW.(IM 21 BTW)
YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT [email protected] IF INTERESTED.
THANKS AND HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU THE SOONEST
your email is a bad link. I am interested.
[email protected]
my name is mark kumar and i am from uk my hair is 22inches long and i want to sell it contact me on [email protected]
Hi, my 11 year old daughter has just had her hair cut and we are looking to sell it. It is 15 inches long. It is strawberry blonde, never been dyed or chemically straightened. Rarely blow dried and only been curled three times. If you want another photo of the hair just send me a reply. Hope that I have helped complete your search. :~D
I’m interested in the hair… plesa emake contact.
Hi it’s Emma again if you were to buy my daughter’s hair how much would you pay for it??????
Hello,
I have around 13 inches of natural copper/ red coloured hair (naturally straight).
I often get compliments and asked where i got the unusual shade from or have i dyed it.
I’ve wanted to cut it for ages and might aswell make some money. 🙂
Im a non- smoker and non drinker and can send photos of it on request.
Thanks
Evey
i have 12 inches of thick shiny brown hair. I am 14 years old dont smoke or drink and take very good care of my hair i dont use straightners or curlers and barly ever blow dry. I brush it twice a day and was it every second day as not to damage it. If anyone wants to buy it email me at [email protected]
oops just read that you are 14.
Would prefer adults due to the style we would like to create and also as we would like to photograph/ video and it is easier to work with adults. Apologies for inconvenience.
i am interested in your hair please call me
Hi,
what much did you want and how short are you happy to go ?
Looking for girls with long hair happy to have their hair cut into a shorter new style to show make over.
Would like to take photos and possibly video.
I am 21 years old and I have 16-18 inches of virgin dark blonde hair with natural highlights- very thick and healthy! Always get compliments so will not cut unless I get a decent price. Only use Matrix brand shampoo and conditioner. I don’t smoke or do drunks and I hardly drink. Email me: [email protected] for pictures.
Oh, and I am in CA, Santa Barbara area.
I have 12 to 13 inches of dark brown with blonde highlights if your interested in buying please call me @ 267-335-3033 or email me @ [email protected] thank you
Virgin dark brown hair in 23” braid. Never been permed, dyed, curled, ironed or even blow dried and I have never washed it more than twice per week. I never smoked, drank alcohol or used drugs. I have only been using natural shampoos and conditioners from the health food store since 1999.
Virgin brown hair in 23” braid. Never been permed, dyed or even blow dried. I never washed it more than twice per week. I never smoked, hardly ever drank alcohol and have been drug free and healthy. I have only been using natural shampoos and conditioners from the health food store since 1999.
I have 10-12 inches of virgin brown hair (natural red/blond highlights depending on how the light catches it). The hair has never been treated in any way. I blow dry it less than 5 times per year (only for special occasions.)
If interested please contact me at [email protected] with HAIR as the subject of the email and I’m happy to send pictures.
It will be cut at a professional salon once a deal has been made.
thank you.
Hi! I have 20-22 inches of gorgeous thick hair for sale. It is virgin dark blonde hair with natural highlights. I am a non-smoker, non-drug-user. I wash it every other day and deep condition it once per week. I have only blow-dryed it 2-4 times for special occasions. If anyone is interested, please email me @ [email protected] and put “HAIR” in the subject line, and I will send you pictures. Please note: I will accept PayPal only.