Another aspect of human hair’s impact is what
happens to the leftovers. All over the globe
hair clippings and disposal is an issue, and the
extension industry is also a part of this. When
thrown out, human hair creates a whole host of
issues; it doesn’t degrade quickly, and when it
does it releases harmful chemicals. When burned
it creates toxic gases, and the dust can cause
respiratory complications for those nearby, etc.
It’s Not All Bad News
This all sounds very glum and defeatist, but
there’s a happier ending. When you’re looking
back with no context on any industry, you’ll see
the same pattern. The truth is hair extensions are
still a young industry and one that hasn’t had the
development attention of others. It’s getting better,
slowly but surely. There are a lot of people hard
at work trying to figure out how to get the results
and prices consumers want with less impact.
Sustainable products are just as important for the
manufacturer as they are for the consumer, but it’s
up to the consumer to show the manufacturers that
their time and effort will be repaid.
So what can consumers do to help? If you’re talking
about human hair, it’s easy. Look for minimally-
treated products from reputable brands. Pursue the
customer service departments and ask questions.
Not only does that mean you get a better idea of
what you’re getting, but it also lets the companies
know that it’s an issue consumers care about.
With synthetics, we recommend that you look
for companies that are working on updating their
synthetic fibers. While many are quietly working
on their own methods, we spoke to Steve Ra at
Royal Imex to learn more about their newest line
of extensions, First. With many synthetic fibers,
there is a toxic fume that occurs when the hair
burns; some of these fibers were actually banned
in the EU for their fumes. This is unsafe for both
the consumer and the environment. First is a new
extension line that is non-toxic, making it the most
eco-friendly version available. Ra explained why
the company had made the move, “I think there
are two directions in this natural movement. One-
natural styles, two-organic hair products. Meaning
that people are more interested in scalp health and
overall health. Royal Imex paid attention to the
second point; people are concerned about their
health. So we had been looking for a fiber that’s
eco-friendly and non-toxic.”
future of the hair industry because consumers’
health and environment are important.” Right now
this fiber is only available in a straight style but
they intend to add curled extensions starting in late
summer to early fall. Ra closed by adding, “I hope
consumers know the danger of toxic fiber and they
will be looking for non-toxic, green fiber in hair
products.”
The last issue of the environmental impact of
extensions and hair products is, what do we do with
excess hair? Well, that’s best answered by Ankush
Gupta, a researcher who published an article titled
“Human Hair ‘Waste’ and Its Utilization: Gaps and
Possibilities.” As it turns out, there are a variety of
ways to use excess hair. In a previous article about
Green Circle Salons, we found out that hair can
be collected and used to soak up oil spills, which
is a very important use. It can also be used as a
renewable source for making composite materials
similar to parcel board. Gupta’s study noted that it
also works as an effective, less damaging natural
fertilizer and insect repellent for farming. Not
only do the chemicals in hair break down to be
perfect for plant food, but the human smell from it
repels some insects that might otherwise require
pesticides.
While there is still a long road to totally green hair
extensions and products, today’s outlook is much
brighter than it was 10 years ago. The industry,
like any, is moving forward, learning, and growing
bigger and better as technology improves and
consumers become more interested.
Ra continued, “We heard that UNO was developing
an eco-friendly fiber so we started working together
to make the best eco-friendly, health-conscious
fiber. There are some parts need to be improved,
but I strongly believe that non-toxic fiber is the
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