Maybe it grows right out of your head. But if you're like millions of women around the world, maybe it doesn't. Maybe you pay a pretty penny for it, and get it sewn or glued in by a professional.
If you wear a weave, wig, or extensions made from human hair, have you ever wondered where the hair came from? UK pop star Jamelia did, and in 2008 she made a documentary with the BBC about the topic.
In this accompanying Daily Mail article, titled Why I'll Never Wear Hair Extensions Again, she reveals her discoveries:
"...most of us give very little consideration to the origin of our hair extensions.
Indeed, until I worked on this BBC investigation, I'm ashamed to admit I'd never once stopped to consider where the human hair I had pinned or sewn into my head had come from.
I was so ignorant about the products I was using that I can't even say how much they were costing me every month or every year.
Then I heard from a friend, earlier this year, that the hair used in the extensions could be taken from corpses. I was horrified.
How did I know I wasn't wearing a dead person's hair?"
And if I was, had they agreed to that before they passed away, or had they simply had it shaved off in a mortuary without their family's knowledge?
And if the hair wasn't taken from the dead, who were this army of women and girls from whom it was taken?
I realised for the first time that there might be a very real human cost to the beauty fad which allowed me to feel more confident on stage.
I wanted to know who on earth was chopping off other people's hair in the name of our Western vanity, and whose hair I have actually been wearing?
My journey to find out took me via some of London's most upmarket hair salons and into the heart of rural Russia and India.
What I discovered was truly shocking and distressing."
Click here to read more of Jamelia's article, and click here for interesting information about hair and the clash of cultures in the orthodox Jewish community.
If you currently wear human hair extensions, weaves, or wigs - I would love to hear from you on this fascinating topic. Do you ever use artificial hair, or do you prefer human? Does it bother you, not knowing where it comes from? Why or why not? Enlighten me!
Comments: (9)
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By: christina on 8/05/2009 4:18AM
Wow! This is an interesting news. This will take off the many questions about hair extensions and wigs that people are using.
Flat Iron Experts
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By: willkill1 on 8/05/2009 8:12AM
Here it is again, the belief that what we was born with does not measure up. Not our concept but someone's else.
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By: Keke on 8/05/2009 12:58PM
I love extensions and wigs. I have worn them over my natural hair for the last 10 years. Perms are too harsh for me, but my natural hair isn't as manageable as I'd like. So I choose to wear them.If it makes you feel better, why not.
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By: bj on 8/06/2009 3:32AM
Why do some Black women feel that our natural hair is not just as Beautiful as white women?
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By: I love my hair on 8/08/2009 9:58AM
I know black women have beautiful hair mine is just very thick and coarse soare two my daughters, the other two have more manageable hair , so its not that we dont think it's beautiful when ists really thick and course its alot harder to manage and work with i have boought a lot of stuff to try to keep moisture in my and my daughters hair its like the hair just drinks it up , my daughter has a very sensitive scalp so its like she cries every time i do her hair,
oh our hair is beautiful but it does get tiresome and frustrating at times when trying to do it so a hair piece here and there is sometimes quicker to just put on , most of the imes i just pull it up or rock the ponytail my daighters i just braid their hair or thet wear it out even when i straighten it it will sweat out and get poofy looking , and one other thing for women that do think their hair is not pretty its b/c for a long time an certain image of what is and isnt beautiful has been put out there, and like i have two uncles that ,married white women b/c they wanted their babies to have straight hair or what they deem to be "good " hair wth?? so i think that all hair types, skin types should all be made known to be equally beautiful , little girls seeing a bunch of straight haired or what's deemed as good haiir on tv what kidn of message do you think they are getting ??? my daughters love their hair but we just have to find something that will make it easier to manage other than that its all beautiful .
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By: Tiffany's Law on 8/08/2009 2:11PM
I wanted to comment on the statement. About the hair comming from corpses. All hair is considered "DEAD" once it leaves the scalp, weather your alive or not. What's the difference?
The world have been recycling body parts forever, hearts, kidneys, livers, etc. to name a few. What's so different with hair.
Let's not worry people it's only hair, it won't kill you. Really it won't it's already "DEAD".
LOL
Thank You.
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By: Adrianne Byrd on 8/08/2009 8:31PM
I'm sick of the argument that you must hate yourself if you chemically alter your hair or what not. African women sew different things into their hair too. I've seen documentaries where they sew and braid in leather straps and what not. Some tribes put soe painful looking ornaments in noses, ears and necks. Should we all do that as well? Do what make you feel good and what your idea of beauty is. Stop trying to shame people for what they like.
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By: EbonyLeaf on 8/13/2009 1:25PM
I commend Jamelia for what she is doing to shed light on the hair trade. I been knew about the true origins and aspects of human hair trade. I won't rant and rave because its not going to change a thing. Black women simply love weaves. I know that Black women arent the only people who uses hair extensions. However, I have seen more Black women than anyone else spend tons of money on it.
What makes the situation so funny in Black community is that we spend so much money on weaves, yet we do not own any means of production. That hair stores aren't owned by us! Hell, the billions of dollars that is spent, we should have been cornered the market. Unfortunately, due to ignorance, that will never happen!
I do not care for weaves... it get confused just going in one of those stores and looking at them! LOL
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By: BOO on 9/05/2009 10:29PM
FROM SOME APES IN NIGGERIA.....
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