From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI, April 14: Recent seizure of a huge amount of human hair by the Border Security Force (BSF) in the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya has led to many interesting facts about one of the most important God-gifted parts of the human body, which has become a flourishing industry lately, come to light.
Latest industry data reveals that India produces the highest volume of human hair and its export is one-third of the total global market amounting to USD 19 million of hair and hair products in 2019.
With the global demand increasing, many factories all over the world but mainly in India’s Northeastern neighbourhood are now producing more wig products such as toupees, wefts, and hairpieces for clients from different corners of the world and main material is coming from India.
Informatively, China is the world’s number one producer of wigs, hair, and hair products. But the human hair smugglers from India operate mainly through Myanmar and Bangladesh via Northeast as a hub.
Human hair is harvested through the temples, villages, barbershops, and beauty parlours in India.
Among these types, temple hair has a major share and collection is taking place either through auctions or by offering some incentives.
Hair is also collected monthly by small agents who tour hamlets offering poverty-stricken women small payments to part with their hair.
People who have temporary financial difficulties in poverty-stricken regions sell their hair to these agents and sometimes the hair of children is exchanged for sweets and toys.
India produces more hair since majority of the Hindus believe in the practice of getting tonsured on many occasions like first haircut of the child, donation (mundan) to the god and on death of very near ones. Maximum human hair is collected from southern India which dots big Hindu temples like Tirupati.
Normally, knotting a wig requires sharp eyes for detail and female workers aged between 18 and 23 can work better and get around Rs 500 a day. Manufacturers said it takes six workers to process one kilogram of hair a day.
Human hair from India is preferred since it is considered fine, lustrous and free from chemical treatments making it most suitable for reuse. The hair exported from India is either raw or processed or polished.
Human hair is being imported from India for the first time through Hili Land Port in Dinajpur district, on the Bangladesh-India border to meet the growing demand for this raw material at local wig factories. But smuggling of human hair is much more than the legal trade since there is very high tax to save its own industry.
The global hair industry is increasing, and everyone likes the supply from India. The celebrity culture has made hair extensions more popular, and everyone wants hair from India.
Demand in the local market has also been growing over the last few years and more and more men and women from different age groups are now eager to use wigs and other related products. Bangladeshi manufacturers enjoy price competitiveness in the global market due to low labour costs and transport costs compared to other exporting nations.
According to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS), the global hair wigs and extensions market is expected to reach USD 13.3 billion by 2026.
Alibaba.com, one of the world’s largest online-based marketplaces, sells different types of wigs at a retail price ranging between USD 120 and USD 350.