The Price Of Hair

Today I was totally grossed out by reading about the trade in human hair.It felt like reading about the Nazis harvesting dental fillings. 

Human hair supposedly fetches between $200-$1000 per kg,depending on its length and quality.It is used in wigs,hair extensions and for grafting.

Apparently hair snipping from salons are sold as also the tonsured hair from temples.And obviously your permission is not required.

In fact there are traders who buy fallen hair just as there are traders of old newspapers.

As both my parents are cancer survivors,I know that baldness is a side-effect of chemotherapy,But I always felt it was a temporary condition that could be handled with a scarf/cap or a wig made of one’s own hair.And in case of permanent baldness,what’s so bad about going bare skulled?Baldness doesn’t kill and a lack of hair doesn’t automatically make you ugly.

Googling round a bit I was surprised to find some personal finance bloggers suggesting making a bit of money off one’s hair.Made me wonder what else next?Eggs,semen,blood,plasma,kidneys,livers,etc.?Though these bloggers did mention the painless nature of harvesting hair.Yes some poor people sell blood,kidneys etc,to make ends meet………but is this really good personal finance?Don’t we practice good personal finance to avoid financial crises that force us to do such desperate things?And can’t financial advisers imagine better ways to make money?