The True Cost Of The Human Hair Trade | True Cost

[@GingerGingie]

I struggle with this. As a woman who is balding, I have used hair extensions. But I certainly don't want anyone to suffer because of me trying to deal with hair loss. Thank you for this video, it a reminder to be aware of the impact I'm making with my choices.

[@JJ-ps9xe]

You need a dht blocker to reduce or eliminate balding. I am not prone to balding but because of androgen use, started losing hair. You can try topical or oral meds. Good luck.

[@musiclover890]

@@JJ-ps9xe but it will decrease ur libido.. even can make u impotent..

[@MA-zg2pz]

@@musiclover890 that is the tiniest percentage of people. Over 90% of people do not have those side affects. Check with your doctor for the research papers proving this.

[@laughter95]

I'm Vietnamese. That woman selling her hair isn't suffering because of your need for hair extensions. She is merely providing a supply to meet a demand. She's compensated for it in exchange. If she couldn't sell her hair, maybe she would have had to provide a harder service to earn her daughter's tuition. No need to feel guilt.

[@quinnrimmer3884]

@@laughter95 Thank you for being a sane person

[@jojoannajojo]

I did it once when I was about 14 yrs old we didn't have food to eat for that day so my mama (who passed this yr) recommended to sell my hair. I cried so hard after that and got bullied at school because they cut my hair so short. It was worth it tho bcoz my family ate and I got to go to school the next day.

[@bitsandpieces8042]

Sorry to hear about your loss, trust God and be strong

[@johnwt7333]

@@bitsandpieces8042 it grew back

[@bitsandpieces8042]

Great!!!

[@confidentalways7526]

Sorry for your loss. May God be a source of strength and comfort to you and your family.

[@nusaibahibraheem8183]

@@confidentalways7526 its hair, its probably longer by now

[@frozeneternity93]

I donate my hair every 18 to 24 months for cancer patients. Never knew there a market for it. Here I give it for free. I really do hope it ends up where it's meant to and will no shady costs to the recipient

[@Irememberhuggabunches]

Sadly many of the companies that do these wigs ( locks for love) don't end up giving wigs free of cost to cancer patients, slightly reduced maybe, but still not free. Even some local charity groups that do these don't do them for free for cancer patients. Just a way for them to pay nothing for a material supply. Also if the hair has been treated with anything ammonia based they can't do wigs for cancer patients anyway since it can cause reactions for some. It's sad they aren't more transparent about these details.

[@MrJackassz]

9 out of 10 charities or donations are corrupt and dont do what they are supposed to. If they did work youd see more of an improvement around the world.

[@Swiminatub]

Your hair grows that fast!!??? Ayeee

[@arriettyplaysgames]

I cut my hair once to donate it to children with cancer but to this day I still have the tuff of hair because I couldn't find a organization that gives wigs for free, it's crazy how cancer patients can be charged to feel better about themselves, they're already suffering enough.

[@julia1999rene]

@@arriettyplaysgames Wigs for kids provides the wigs at no cost to family or the child.

[@Hoodicaat]

The reason why Vietnamese don't complain about how cheap they sell their hair is because 7 dollars in Vietnam can buy you a lot of things, unlike in America or other countries. My mom used to sell hair for a really cheap price and when I asked her why, she said "it's just some hair, I don't give a shit" (she didn't swear tho, I made that up)

[@okas425]

Thanks for the clarification she didn’t swear that completely changes the entire story

[@zyqx4365]

Yes! Thats true for all documentaries. It's stupid to just say what something is worth in dollars. Buying power is what's important. If they'd have to pay for education as much as Americans for college, 7$ probably wouldn't be worth the hassle.

[@zyqx4365]

Yes! Thats true for all documentaries. It's stupid to just say what something is worth in dollars. Buying power is what's important. If they'd have to pay for education as much as Americans for college, 7$ probably wouldn't be worth the hassle.

[@johncu7101]

Lol i live in Hanoi $7 can buy you shit

[@Hoodicaat]

@@johncu7101 Maybe you lived in the wrong Hanoi bro. 7 dollars here in my neighborhood can get you a lot of things.

[@NellyTieuMy]

In Vietnam, a person could earn $1/hr doing the same job that could earn around $14-15/hr in the US. I would say the value of $7 in Vietnam is like $100 in the US. So, to ppl there, it's like selling their hair for $100, for groceries, meals, bills, it's actually not too bad; to the business, it's a good deal to make a $7 worth $50-100 (I guess so, sr I don't know about wig's prices). My mom actually sold my hair 15 years ago just for $3. I used to keep my hair originally healthy long black.

[@MA-zg2pz]

Why does the location of the person change the value of their hair? If a person from the US went to Vietnam and sold their hair what wage would they get paid?

[@presidentjoethudbrandon7074]

The amount per hour doesn't mean much. The cost to live in the US is drastically higher than in Vietnam.

[@MA-zg2pz]

@@presidentjoethudbrandon7074 I mean amount per foot of hair. If the hair is taken over seas anyway, why does the value change based on the source? The hair industry makes millions on the hair of these women. They are the linchpin of the industry. God forbid women make more than those around them in their home country.

[@NellyTieuMy]

@@MA-zg2pz That US person would get paid $7 for his/her hair. The value of the hair doesn't change based on location. The value of money does. 7 USD in Vietnam is different from 7 USD the US. In Vietnam, you could have 7 regular bowl of Phở, or 10 regular Bánh Mì (Vietnamese sandwiches) with $7. In the US, you might just have 1 Bánh Mì, or a kid bowl of Phở.

[@NellyTieuMy]

@@presidentjoethudbrandon7074 Of course the higher average salary, the higher living cost.

[@miltostzovaras9787]

7$ to sell your hair, up to $2000 to buy... So unfair.

[@tesstickle7267]

Probably a fraction of the price to buy from the Asian company.

[@abhi01289]

Indians offer it for free in temples.

[@pjacobsen1000]

It's not unfair. There are many steps and processes from their head to your head. And many hands to go through, all of which need a cut (of the money, not the hair). A sheep gives its hair away for free, but a wool sweater is still expensive.

[@dogmosatchmo]

@@pjacobsen1000 Perfect analogy

[@miltostzovaras9787]

@@pjacobsen1000 It is expensive because from Make a profit we went to Maximize profits. Companies want billions, not millions. Wool is cheaper than before but final product is more expensive now than before.

[@tipitii7388]

I don’t get why people are upset about this? This is literally true about almost everything you own! If you’re watching this on your phone, people die and work for slave wages mining for the minerals that are needed for the component in your phone, and the story never ends..

[@rhuttrho88]

The problem is hypocrites! The buyers of this hair are professional victims! Lying that America is racist, and that they are compassionate! Don't start none won't be none! So your comment is moot! They are using slave labor for their vanity while claiming to be victims! But can afford hundreds of dollars in human hair weaves! Don't be a hypocrite!🤦🏿‍♂️🙄🤷🏿‍♂️🙏🏿🇺🇲👌🏿✊🏿👍🏿🤙🏿✌🏿😉

[@ToudaHell]

Hair is an intimate thing and people get upset when really long hair gets chopped off. It's almost like chopping off an organ to them. I get that everytime I get a hair cut. Therefore selling hair is like selling a part of that person and they weigh that monetarily like selling a kidney and should be worth more. Also true ethical sources are people like me who don't need to sell but need a hair cut and selling (donating) is basically a free hair cut. Just like organ donations.

[@sunshineyrainbows13]

Let's get mad about all of it then. Let's stop buying mica and diamonds. Let's demand ethically sourced clothes and technology and food. Let's check the source on every single thing we purchase. We are the only ones who can change it as consumers but we simply shrug and choose easy laziness every second, ignoring the suffering it causes.

[@rapagenist]

Amen

[@xero8865]

xD gang

[@urchincreature]

In the past I have sold my hair to help pay my bills when I couldn't find another way to cover all of them. I don't think I believe there's such a thing as 'ethical consumption', but I sure needed the money at the time.

[@huntress44]

Did this once. Sold my hair that was past my hips, simply because I got bored with it and didn't want to just throw it away after cutting. I'd say it was one of very few regrets in my life. The sudden loss of weight on your head, the empty space it left when you comb your fingers through your remaining hair. It felt like losing a friend. And for a very cheap price too. Wasn't worth it. My hair grew back of course, but I'll never cut it that short again.

[@WseemHourani]

Inspiring story!

[@UldisCrystal]

I cut my hair to the point of the bold head then threw it away out of the window then later saw a seagull made a nest from my hair and 3 eggs hatched and baby gulls grow up. I would say it was worth it than selling. In terms of having the bold head, it was such a light feeling which I do love it. But I find it weird to wear another person's hair.

[@casper1780]

@@WseemHourani fr

[@livefree316]

Your hair is a gift from God read the word of God about how a female's hair is her covering Howitzer identity from God to distinguish her from a man. The Lord truly has made females amazingly with their beautiful feminine attributes and inner strength from God that helps them in ways that is admirable when you read proverbs 31 such a woman is a true Jewel.

[@sarahm4877]

@@livefree316 Honestly this is a very misogynistic view. Men have hair but some how it is not part of their beauty, their god given worth? We are more then hair and beauty. We are people. God made us amazing because we are, not because we have "pretty" hair. Please value us more than our "beauty". Be better to women.

[@aleenaprasannan2146]

It's interesting to see that people are not questioning how a temple is earning $ 1.49 million from auctioning off hair that was donated by devotees....and the most ridiculous thing is that, that revenue is exempted from taxation....

[@athiravisweswaran7709]

Exactly!!

[@dnoloc]

The guys are the temple are genius 😂😂😂

[@darshithrajendra8947]

Temples give free food to lakhs of people.

[@aleenaprasannan2146]

@@darshithrajendra8947 So? That free food is categorized as charity and that's also accounted, you know why? Because that's how you cut down on taxes. Its the same reason why all big corporates do charity. Besides the hair auction is not even their biggest source of revenue, it's the millions that flow in as donations. The prasadam sale is also exempted from tax

[@aadityabrahmbhatt]

FYI all major temples including the one you're referring are handled by Indian Government itself, so please don't worry about taxation. Also what do you suggest, what should happen to the donated hairs? People like you and me go beyond their extends to save taxes, but if a temple does that its a big deal!

[@jojomakes]

Sometimes when we go into a store, we can really take things for granted because we've been spoiled to just go in and purchase it or go online and do the same thing. Sometimes we forget the work involved in getting it there.

[@tubester4567]

Another industry to serve womens vanity.

[@riquehurturfeelings6562]

My daughter has long hair I remember a women tried cutting it but I pulled my iron on her she took off in a getaway car. Brazil has the same problem.

[@lohaye3260]

Oh my goodness, when my mom was a teenager here in Brazil this kind of crime used to happen a lot, today it's not much heard of because most woman don't used to let hair grow much longer anymore.

[@Nikki_Catnip]

That is insane. I can’t imagine having the guts to come up to someone and try and cut their hair off and steal their body part. Like what the hell... that’s disgusting...

[@riquehurturfeelings6562]

@@Nikki_Catnip my point exactly it started by her saying how pretty my daughter was in Walmart then it got real awkward when she asked for a hug. So I told her leave us alone! So we rushed out of there. Once unlocking my truck in parking lot a car pulled up on us and the lady ran towards my daughter with Scissors and I pulled my gun on her. I never seen a old lady run so fast in my life. Moral of the story keep a eye on your kids in public.

[@Nikki_Catnip]

@@riquehurturfeelings6562 I don’t have kids but you absolutely did the right thing! Her making comments beyond the “awe she’s cute” and moving on was the first red flag, then asking her for a hug?? Wtf that is sooo creepy. Then to blatantly run after her trying to cut her is insane. You are a good father. That lady definitely needed a reality check. She definitely fucked with the wrong one that day! 😌

This happens anywhere & women end up with very poor choppy haircuts. Sometimes they point a gun at the victim

[@scraperindustry]

I had hair to my hips when I was a teenager and then cut it all off to a short bob. The hair stylist actually kept my hair. Maybe I should have asked for a discount for my haircut

[@JkrJolt]

If these people are willing to sell their hair to make ends meet, which is far better than selling anything worse if you know what I mean 🙄, they should at least receive a fair price for that. Selling their hair for 7 bucks while these hair being sold from money hungry companies for hundreds of dollars, is unacceptable.

[@petercarioscia9189]

Obviously it is acceptable, as the market is bearing it. This same pricing model follows for a LOT of products from Asia into US markets. Right, wrong it indifferent, $10 is enough for a seller in an Asian market to sell to a US retailer, and $100 is a price American consumers are willing to pay, apparently, as I said early the market is bearing it.

[@pugdad2555]

@@petercarioscia9189 but that is literally due to the company not telling their employees how much their hair is worth. Like don't you think with this day and age, they couldn't get together themselves and start selling tjeir own hair and cut out the companies. Or do you think the company should use the government to sue them?

[@kevinh3238]

The added value is what is makes the price so high not the hair on its own

[@pugdad2555]

@@kevinh3238 and how do you calculate that price increase?

[@kevinh3238]

@@pugdad2555 to calculate it in numbers is really hard to do from the outside. But in general things like labor, transportation, administration, tax and rent of buildings are factors

[@Blitzkrieg1976]

The struggle is real. I'm American and I feel bad how crappy they get paid.

[@thetrison]

I'm Vietnamese and actually, because of the purchasing power parity between the USD and the VND, the 7 dollars they earn can buy them groceries for a day, at least.

[@Sheepdog1314]

...because you make a lot of money? They don't live in the high priced US

[@thetrison]

I'm just stating the reality.

[@ikitty03]

In American we donate our hair to cancer patient

[@thetrison]

We do, too.

[@JSisall]

Would have been helpful to name the company that ethically sourced their hair and pays their workers well. Buying direct from them would be a good way for people to reward good business practices. Edit: typo

[@efhjjfdth]

They did, the company is Apohair. Don't know how you missed it, it appeared on everyone's shirts and on the woman they interviewed's subtitle.

Remy NY from Refinery 29's video.

[@hannibaljustincase9985]

@@efhjjfdth white on white on white. I actually missed the company name as well. it would be nice for them to just say "we visited XZY company...", provide some links to their site etc. but I also understand that's not a commercial

[@beakytwitch7905]

My father used to buy hair - made men's toupees with it. He reported that middle class women's hair was not to be trusted to be louse-free. White unbleached hair from older people fetched the highest price. White hair would be blended with other hair to match and blend in with the customer's own hair.

[@nikkitalks4713]

I’m learning to make hair pieces currently. If you don’t mind me asking, how was he able to locate a good source for quality hair?

[@beakytwitch7905]

@@nikkitalks4713 no single source. Italian women entering convents (ask at convents?). Military training places? But beyond that I would be guessing.

[@joanna0988]

I highly doubt middle class people have lice nowadays.

[@yumidynowska6305]

So unfair... They should be paid much more!

[@bngr_bngr]

Maybe $10.

[@invisiblerevolution]

And then you'll be payin.... $4000 dollars for your WIGS here in America.

[@nate6045]

@@invisiblerevolution Not by much. Most of the cost is in labor, not the hair itself. For 2 years worth of work, they should be paid more, especially since it takes time to groom the hair and money to wash extra hair. $7 is nothing. Giving them $20-30 extra is not going to be a deal breaker for someone paying $300-1000 per wig. Passing that cost to the consumer isn't going to be too difficult.

[@ianmiles2505]

Thosands more, thousands!.

[@bavenhen00]

When I was a kid... people used to hold girl on the streets cut and steal their hair...

[@MA-zg2pz]

😥

[@JRPGGUY]

Yikes. What country?

[@bngr_bngr]

Thats crazy!!!

[@AirQuotes]

This is exactly why I don't wear extensions or wigs.

[@nirvanah2029]

I wear extensions and wigs and very blessed I have the privilege of growing my own beautiful hair and I’m blessed to be able to buy features 🦋🙏🤍

[@Andreabay90]

and let me guess you have no alopecia?

[@jaypolas4136]

@@Andreabay90 Whatsthat

[@hannibaljustincase9985]

@@Andreabay90 most people on earth don't have alopecia tho and they still wear wigs and extensions

[@hannibaljustincase9985]

@@nirvanah2029 is it any form of blessing if comes from a level of injustice?

[@thetongueofangels1882]

Y'all need to understand that $7 dollars is worth different things in different countries. One lady literally said she was gonna pay her child's tuition with it

[@alicenguyen9487]

One month tuition as best, and she properly mean primary school. Cause as far as I know, tuition in Vietnam can be expensive. Sure, $7 definitely worth more in Vietnam than in the US, but I still think she should get pay a bit more for her hair. Maybe 12-15 buck, it takes a while to able to grow the hair out and keeping it in good condition. So I don’t think the $7 is justified.

[@blacklyfe5543]

Everyone knows that

[@SogDough]

Hello I am from Turkey where 1 dollar is 26 Turkish Liras. It still doesn’t make it ethical.

[@beckysam3913]

Makes you feel less guilty to say that, also tuitionn is more expensiv then that otherwise all women would be billionaires like elon musk 😂😂😂😂

[@truegrit7697]

So that makes Western abuse okay??

[@Tsicloh]

In my city of Antananarivo, capital city of Madagascar, hair theft is now becoming a rampant issue! Women are being mugged off their hair in the street!! 😬

[@simplelife9702]

So scary 😳

[@hannibaljustincase9985]

I've seen a scenario like this in some comedy like a decade ago, so sad this became a reality :/

[@poojajoshi1104]

Really.. it's shocking

[@Pheebe.Dee.]

These women are getting ripped off and duped by selling their hair for less than $10 for all sorts of reasons.

[@bngr_bngr]

Thats the market price for hair.

[@Jessica-nx8or]

$10 in Vietnam goes very far, you need to understand the change in currency

[@anhngoc-ji3fe]

@@Jessica-nx8or not that far. Money tent to lost its value overtime. Im a Vietnamese. Do you know how much it cost for a real wig around here? 500$ for short wig 100% real hair. How long to raise hair long enough to sell it? 10$ just about a buffet. Even in here. They paid depend on the quality and the length of hair. Few months. Even years.

[@Jessica-nx8or]

@@anhngoc-ji3fe there is always a markup on goods vs product

[@bltzcstrnx]

@@anhngoc-ji3fe but the hair is only raw materials. Just like your phone or computer, the raw material cost probably around 10% of the final product price. Others is in labour, distributions, marketing, etc.

[@phamminhha7115]

Honestly, Vietnam is a developing country so that’s why the cost of living or just the price of hiring manual workers is extremely cheap. Being a mother or just a breadwinner in a family, Vietnamese mothers have been thinking about how to earn make to cater for their children's needs such as the tuition fee, sort of this. Therefore, I have got mixed feelings when I was watching this video since I can truly comprehend all the sacrifices and also the hardships, which Vnese mothers have undergone. They would have to cut their hair and sell it, which is similar to their precious part of bodies. However, more and more people who could suffer from cancer or have bald may be given a sense of confidenc thanks to this hair. Anyway, I still do believe thatthe price of selling hair is dirt cheap in Vietnam (so sad 😞)

[@lianalonge1984]

I hope that someday this industry will become regulated so that women selling their hair are given much more fair value.

[@jenniferj.8750]

EXACTLY!!!!!🙄

[@sml6570]

Much more serious things in the world than “Hair”

[@letthetunesflow]

Someone should setup a company in Vietnam (and other countries) that require their hair collectors to wear cameras, as well as tagging the hair with a label giving information on the employees collecting it, all while filming it up until it is sealed in a container, then shipped to facility that is also under surveillance to a facility processing it that also is under surveillance. If they are selling it for as much as they are, they should still be able to sell the hair for a massive profit! This will allow companies to audit the process and ensure much better ethical standards. It could use similar methods that some fisherman use where the person collecting the hair has a profile card included with each product, giving a nice profile of the employee and a bit about them. Just an idea that I’m sure people will pick apart, but I know a method like this would be the only kind of hair I would buy if available (and if I bought extensions to begin with). I’m sure some process that includes ideas like this could be accomplished! Ensuring we stop any and all products from China that could be connected in any way to their genocidal regime MUST be pursued at all costs! We must also demand our countries pass laws that enforce clear country of origin labels on online sales, as well as setting up as much protection against products from any country involved in unethical and genocidal practices like China currently is involved in!!! We all must stand up against crimes against humanity!

[@leonwilliams8750]

No body replied too u yet mfs be sad😂

[@fredricklee]

The sad part is that many in the U.S., especially in the entertainment industry, have no idea or care what the true cost of getting that wig or weave. And if you make a big deal about, you may get the side-eye. I live in the Los Angeles metro and you see blocks of stores that sell human hair and people buying without blinking an eye. I wonder why the U.S. politicians have established regulations in this market? But, I may get the side-eye response.

[@carochan86]

You would unintentionally or intentionally going after African Americans. Rather then regulate I feel like any products we buy needs more transparentcy. The idea we know what country the hair comes from is a start. You could have an employee in China work making clothes and making a decent wage versus another making slave wages bit we have no way of knowing which is which. We can assume a high end brand will be of great quality but how do you know they didn't use the same factory as the fast fashion brand.

[@fredricklee]

@@carochan86 I am an African-American and my comment did not make any references to African-Americans. So, making assumptions about my comment especially if you are not African-American has no bearing. And there other cultures that use weaves and wigs in which my comment was directed at with emphasize on the Los Angeles metro area.

[@thisgame2]

You refuse to call out the most protected species on the planet huh? It's sad that they have to self appropriate our women's hair out of such an obvious endless void of insecurity. But since most of you are terrified of your shadow because it's darker than you. You will sit there and be told it only goes one way. They literally tell you that you have no culture or identity. Your a mutated albino w no soul. Maybe try not being riddled w guilt. You'll feel so much better.

[@missl3982]

@@thisgame2 🤡🤡🤡

[@Joesy015]

*When we look at Hollywood celebrities they themselves have hair pieces in their heads or even wigs. The Kardashians and Jenners have talked openly about their hair and how they change it up with wigs and “extensions”. Even Katy Perry and Lady Gaga obviously were known for their own wigs.Orthodox Jewish women pay thousands for their wigs because they usually get them handmade because religiously they must cover their hair once married, they don’t all wanna wear a “tichel” aka head scarf. Also don’t forget about people who may suffer from cancer or even alopecia. Yes of course black women wear hair too but it’s not just them. So it crosses a lot of different groups that wear hair not just one group.*

[@Jessica-nx8or]

Did you just type all that out because you realized black women use others hair more than white ppl and you wanted to shift focus? It's a fact that POC use artificial or other people's hair more than others, why does that have to be hidden?

[@SureYoureRight]

@@Jessica-nx8or black women aren’t the manufacturer’s and play no role in how this hair comes to be. Just like the devices you use and clothes you wear daily which come from slave labor isn’t manufactured by you. And even though you most likely understand that, you still purchase these items. Although I don’t wear extensions or weave of any kind, I have a business selling raw hair from India. Guess who my biggest customers are 😀

[@Jessica-nx8or]

@@SureYoureRight I never said they were the manufacturer...

[@Jessica-nx8or]

@@SureYoureRight I think you're missing the point of the video, which is that women in poverty are being taken advantage of because of their need. It has nothing to do with the colour of the people who use the product, and that's not the problem.

[@jettpayton1352]

This comes of as really defensive 😂

[@PheiKitchen]

This video make people know the process

[@gandangpinay2158]

I have thigh length hair and some beauty parlor owners asked me they want to buy my hair for $200 (that's ₱10,000 in my currency) but i said NO. My long hair are my comfort zone 😍

[@ianmiles2505]

Fantastic. Do not sell it. It is worth thousand of dollars.

[@jeppyjep]

Give me your hair. I want it. My hair is really dry and rough.

[@tartaglia.]

@@jeppyjep damn son that’s creepy

[@patriciaszabo8015]

​@@jeppyjep Or buy plastic ones. You are wear so much plastic beside hair.

[@waffle8364]

this is insane. imagine people at some point selling skin grafts for a few bucks but later sold for thousands. or organs sold for dollars and later sold for thousands. it's just insane

[@CrystalRuizEnriquez]

2 stories about this...one, there was a website (don't remember) that calculated the "value" of hair depending on length...well, may hair is down to my butt and it gave me an error, the longest they had was about 20 inches and it wouldn't even register my hair, so just a weirs hair story. And 2nd about 12 or 13 years ago, in mexico, people had been cutting women's ponytails and braids close to my town, i figured it was to sell them, which sucked so much.

[@ArumWaharatri]

I remember my almarhumah (late) grandmother still collect and sell her hair when she comb her long hair. It's a rare practice in my generation, but actually still worthy for many kind of crafts (wig, bun, etc) it produce really good product looks natural, I'm from Indonesia btw. Watching this my heart really "aw" ❤️ I love her so much 🥺🤲 Can we say she's a zero waste hero? 🎖️😅 Think about it it's actually pretty good for environment or reduce waste 🤔 Though, actually she's doing it to help the financial of the family, there's not really much go green activism back then ♻️ Thanks anyway for the video 🤗

Remy NY from Refinery 29's video cuts hair in sections and doesn't give women bad haircuts. He gives them fair pay too

[@ASMROW]

Is it just me who gets really disgusted touching other people's hair? Let alone wearing it on my head and face. I'd rather stay bald to be honest. It's not the end of the world.

[@PLuMUK54]

During the 1930s Depression my grandma was struggling to feed her family. She had already sold her shoes, but one day walked, barefoot, the six miles to a wig maker. She sold her hip length hair for enough to buy food for a week. This was in supposedly wealthy England.

[@mizzbelle97]

Wearing someone else’s hair has always been odd to me. I understand when you have a medical condition but by choice?? You have no idea how it was maintained before you put it on your head. 🤕

[@Andreabay90]

well 99% of people do it because of medical conditions so doesnt really matter

[@hannibaljustincase9985]

but the same could be said about clothing for example- do you know how you cotton from t-shirt was maintained before you put it on your body? if anything, for me more weird is how much effort you have to put it into um installing(i think that's the term) a wig with all the steps and products used and yet women do it

[@SPYgirl199812]

This is why I only use synthetic hair for everything It's not as "good" but it's cheaper and not as morally corrupt (plastic use is a whole other argument)

[@thisgame2]

Use your own and stop appropriating our women

[@SPYgirl199812]

@@thisgame2 You came to the wrong comment 🤦🏾‍♀️ I said I use PLASTIC Synthetic means fake, plastic Aka not real

[@ofuckingkay617]

@@thisgame2 Bruh

[@parkchimmin7913]

@@thisgame2 Learn to read ffs

[@ianmiles2505]

Whats wrong with yiur own?

[@h.Freeman]

Love yourself the way God made you... you're beautiful just the way you are ✊🏿 their standard of beauty is not thee standard

[@MrsSlocombesPuddyCat]

Some of the hair is being used by hair loss sufferers and cancer sufferers.

[@Music4krista1]

There was a documentary called Good Hair which covered this in more detail, years ago. Maybe by Chris Rock? I think it was him

[@cynthiatreynor1973]

I have long hair but this just makes me think we place way too much value on how a woman looks instead of who she is as a person.

[@simon3812]

They talk like it’s so valuable tho. I throw hair down the toilet every morning for $0. If someone offers me oreos I’d give it to them

[@LeratoM98]

Oh gosh, as a black woman I hate this. I know black women fund most of this industry and it's such a shame. When will more of us embrace our own, natural hair smh

[@HighMaintenanceMinimalist]

I feel grateful to be a black woman who has never been comfortable wearing unatural-looking, silky straight fake hair. I'm fine with my natural kinks and coils.

[@LeratoM98]

@@HighMaintenanceMinimalist That's great and I really hope to see more of it, not just in my country where I'm definitely seeing the change, but also globally. I grew up using relaxers until 2016, when I became conscientized and did the big chop to go natural. It was definitely worth it, I can also proudly say that I love my hair and the process of learning about it.

[@lacie824]

Never have I though too much about my hair. I often cut my hair short when I got bored of having long hair (plus it takes longer to wash and dry & I wash my hair very often so a lot of work) and grow my hair long when I wants beautiful long hair again. And the cycle repeats over & over.

[@chrisfromsouthaus2735]

In the future, I think we will look back on using other people's hair, the same way we look back on George Washington, and his contemporaries, using other human's teeth in their dentures. With fascination, and mild disgust.

[@atsuki18]

i would like to look on the brighter side of the wig industry tho like how it helped people who suffered from cancer regain their confidence, and the black people finally wearing any hair they want.

[@chrisfromsouthaus2735]

@@atsuki18 The same thing could be said for human teeth. "It gives those who lost their teeth to decay, or injury, the chance to eat solid food again" or "it gave those with missing teeth the ability to smile in public again". In the end, good enough synthetics gave good enough results without the need for exploitation. The same can easily be true for hair, given enough time and motivation.

[@-redacted2554]

His teeth are a lot more then mildly disgusting

[@hannibaljustincase9985]

we should harvest hair for wigs from dead people

[@atsuki18]

@@hannibaljustincase9985 hmm that's hard tho bc you cant tell the condition of the hair straight away by asking the owner plus who knows if the deceased person has any medical conditions that can be passed on ++ hard to obtain consent from relatives too

[@Dr_KW]

I feel so bad that so many women have been taught to culturally value long hair as this prized posession. I shave most of my hair and it is so so so freeing. I think hair (or no hair) of any length looks great on any gender.

[@thisgame2]

White women are the Pinnacle

[@anthyavila9726]

I feel so bad that holier-than-thou women like you preach as if every vapid thought from your little brain is gold. Get of your high horse, focus on your shaving and worry less about what other women love and find happiness in. 🙄🙄🙄

[@bygonestales2171]

I like having my super long hair because I think its pretty. I don't give a shit about if men like it or what others think. can't a girl just enjoy something stereotypically 'feminine' without being told she's been brainwashed? yikes

[@Misskraehe]

As a girl who rocked a pixie for several years, you hating on female traditions is kind of messed up. Long hair IS a prized possession. Biblically that went for men and women. With men, many cultures apply the same values to facial hair. Something that takes years to grow and maintain would is able to give anyone pride, and I don’t think that should be stripped from womanhood. As a woman, I can’t wait to have long hair again! Women around the world face much bigger problems than being “taught to love and value their long hair.” There’s still massive sex trafficking and slavery and genital mutilation and you’re worried about girls loving their hair??? A really weird thing to “feel so bad” about. It makes women happy. 🤨😕

[@ThisUserPassedAway]

Freeing for you. Most of us love having long hair and taking care of it.

[@sweaterrpoorlyknit]

This is heartbreaking… my hair is a significant part of my identity and I have been trying to get it down to just above my lower waist for so long now after an accident that got it snarled and cost me half that length 4 years ago… and she’s giving up her pretty hair for only $7 toward her kid’s future!!? I hope education there isn’t as bad cost wise as in America…. This is so sad🥺🥺😞😞😞💖💖. And unacceptable💯.

[@jeppyjep]

7-10 US dollars for SEA currency is pretty alright. Im from Malaysia and $10 in malaysian currency is around RM50, which i can buy foods, books, clothes and bunch of other stuffs.

[@patriciaszabo8015]

In Europa mean you can buy a cheap t-shirt.

[@lefu7812]

I used to have really long hair. After i got my bowlcut, I just put them in a drawer. The idea of selling/donating hair so that part of me is used as a decoration by someone else is repulsive ngl.

[@Janasartgallery]

Someone was trying to buy my hair on the internet when I was in HS, I looked at my hair and said if only he knew it was full of split ends 😅l

[@WomanTakenBytheWind]

It’s sad seeing them only get paid pennies. I got offered $400 for my hair before.

[@കള്ളിയങ്കാട്ടുനീലി]

Do you live in America ?

[@WomanTakenBytheWind]

@@കള്ളിയങ്കാട്ടുനീലി yes, the buyer was from India though

[@brightballoon]

I recently learned is that hair follicles are kept alive by blood flow, and so, I have a scar where I had an overly tight sewn-in weave braided in. After a couple days of pain, I scratched my head, and a chunk of my scalp came out painlessly in my hand! Turns out, it was braided so tightly, it cut off blood flow to the follicles, killing that piece of scalp. Please be careful about how tightly you get your weave. And also, even clips placed over and over can kill the hair follicles in a similar way. I have a few small hairless patches bc of that, too. Be careful! But, as someone who's used so much human hair over the years, this story is really sad to hear. I feel conflicted, knowing the hair comes from hardship and poverty, but also provides those same struggling people with some money. It's sad, the inequality in standards of living.

[@yungmun4155]

I love how there’s an ad for wigs on my page as this is playing

[@lotstodo]

In India there is a religious service where they cut off their hair. Some people collect it and sell it. I love their hair, wish mine grew like that. My nephew tried to donate his hair but they tossed it because of Marijuana use

[@lindapindabelinda3570]

I’m curious why so many people are saying they’re selling their hair to pay for tuition for their children. Is elementary education not free in that country?

[@GraniteInTheFace]

Tuition maybe free But things like books, pens, clothing, uniforms, meals, etc arent

[@jacobbwalters8133]

She could be sending her children to a private school

[@The_Jaded_One]

There's a lot of countries that you have to pay to go to school. I'm from Jamaica and my mom had to make clothes for long hours everyday to pay for me and my siblings school fees etc. Being able to go to school was a privilege for some.

[@traaotuong6107]

Tuition fee is free for primary, secondary schools but not for high schools. And people still need money to buy books, pens, notebooks, extra classess,....

[@thisgame2]

Same ppl prostitute for college

[@Trolo8]

Noone going to talk about the reverse clip at 7:24 ?

[@randomargument972]

Great video reporting, Keep up the work!

[@J9_kun]

People say $7 for a hair sold at $2000 is unfair, but that is still roughly 2% of their income and corresponds to about $150 in terms of worth (calculated by comparing Vietnam and US average income). For something like hair that is so abundant, paying any more could lead to everyone selling their hair, i.e. increased supply, and in the long run that will do those people more harm than good.

[@rolly6020]

this is a really bad argument. The food cost is not so much different in developing countries, even though vietnam is very cheap relative, $7 is really not much, about 3 meals.

[@J9_kun]

@@rolly6020 So, 7 USD is roughly 161k VND. With that, you could buy upto 8kg of vegetables or meat, 4kg of fish, 50 eggs, 16 bottles of water, 11 cans of beer, 5 meals at local restaurants or 3 sets of burgers and chips/french fries. The average food cost for Vietnamese is on average between 600k to 1M VND. They get payed from 16 to 27% of their monthly food cost from selling their hair. I don't think that's bad at all, considering this is not their main source of income.

[@cpcCA]

Keep in mind the mark up is from the supplier brand. I received a price list from APO that. Bill BM BM bill BM bill b bill bill range from 50 to 90 USD

[@LTCloud9]

Why are many people here mad that they get $7 only? I once gave my old HDD to my buddy for a cup of tea and he sold it for ~$15. You don't see me fuming it's unfair. He just made a smarter business move and gained more profit. I gained a cup of tea and I am happy with it, he gained $10 and he is happy with it. Everyone wins.

[@rhuttrho88]

The buyers of the hair are hypocrites! Playing victim! That's why! Don't start none won't be none! Running around rioting and looting claiming to be victims while using slave labor for looks!🤦🏿‍♂️🙄🤷🏿‍♂️🙏🏿🇺🇲👌🏿✊🏿👍🏿🤙🏿✌🏿

[@hannibaljustincase9985]

ehh, I don't think you can compare your old HDD to 2 years of growing hair. but at the same time you see those people being mad wearing some fast fashion clothing etc

[@LTCloud9]

@@hannibaljustincase9985 My sis has much better hair than the girls in the video. Forget selling it, it costs her $50 to cut it. Time is not a factor here. The value hair holds is purely sentimental. And that means absolutely zilch to others.

[@MrsSlocombesPuddyCat]

Err. Maybe because they only get $7.00, whereas it is onsold for hundreds or thousands of $$$$. People are upset that the balance is so out of kilter.

[@LTCloud9]

@@MrsSlocombesPuddyCat Because people think hair magically teleports from there to US and transforms itself to a wig. People conveniently forgot about all the stuff and work and money required in the middle.

[@vinhpham4556]

I live in Viet Nam and I feel this prize is acceptable with the average income in my country

[@danh.2270]

How many Nguyen's do u know?

[@sanm9462]

I suppose it's sad for them but they need some extra money, I just wish they would give them a better pay off, not like 7$ that's crazy.

[@kevinh3238]

7 dollars in Vietnam is quite a lot for hair. You can buy at least days worth of groceries with that

[@GemsSupplier]

Women get much better prices in Thailand, 30 to 150$ for the seller depending on length.

[@Jessica-nx8or]

Does $7 go as far in Thailand as it does here?

[@GemsSupplier]

@@Jessica-nx8or here where? 7$ is a little over 200 baht, it's a little below daily minimum wage in Thailand... I'm not sure where you want to go though... is it far?

[@Jessica-nx8or]

@@GemsSupplier a daily wage is a great deal for hair, I'd take it

[@GemsSupplier]

@@Jessica-nx8or I'm not trying to prove if it's good or not. My neighbor was selling food in a street stall, not the poorest person around, but obviously not wealthy. She was always wearing a scarf and was taking extremely good care of her hair. She was growing them down to her waist and the care was really a part time job on its own. She was nearing 50 and really had fantastic looking hair, according to her it was the most expensive quality on the market. She was cutting them back to her ears after 3 years and could sell them for 150$ (5000 Baht, nearly 15 years ago). One of her friends with standard hair was also selling them every couple of years for 1000 baht (30$). I can't say if it's good money or not, what I can say is that they spend a lot of time and money to grow them nicely and I wouldn't myself take a part time job of the kind for a max of 50$ a year. It must be a girl's thing. Actually there are a lot of men with nice hair but I never met one who thought of selling them. Good day my friend.

[@Jessica-nx8or]

@@GemsSupplier it's true that people aren't getting paid for the amount of effort and often love that goes into women growing their hair, especially with the significance it carries, it should be a lot more. I think it's just that they know the need is high and that other women will sell it for less based on necessity.

[@boarbot7829]

Those women buying it are just scammers. I watched a video of someone who pays around 100 dollars and gives them a nice haircut.

[@christiantomsaturnino]

Its so interesting that Asians are the source of hair for Western countries yet Western countries don't want Asians in the US to have a share on the market on the hair and weave industry in the country. Its very exploitive of the Western countries to discriminate Asians yet they want Asian products for themselves...

[@watchdealer11]

Wonderful, an anthropologist explaining markets. There's no such thing as an unregulated market. Buyers and sellers regulate prices, quantities, and quality based on supply and demand. It's a beautiful and glorious system that works. You cannot simply look at raw markup without adjusting for operating expenses and the vastly different income levels between developed and developing nations. For example, the average American earns about 20 to 25 times more than the average Vietnamese.

[@rylie4122]

I guess their argument is they want to tell these women what price they have to sell their hair for

[@MA-zg2pz]

Unregulated as in no safeguards for the Vietnamese people to get paid fairly or treated fairly. Being in an underdeveloped country doesn’t mean the people don’t deserve a fair wage. People in these other countries are bullied into working for nearly nothing because the alternative is farming for even less. Developed countries have a role in the ethics of this situation.

[@bngr_bngr]

M A these are countries where women grow long hair. In the US, some people cut their hair for free to donate to cancer patients.

[@MA-zg2pz]

@@bngr_bngr yes, great. But there are not women in the US growing multiple feet of their hair for $7 while the hair industry makes millions off them. That pay disparity is immoral. There is obviously money to send down the chain to these women, but alas that is why “trickle down economics” is a lie. It doesn’t actually happen.

[@renim2974]

@@MA-zg2pz they would be $7 poorer if they didn’t sell their hair.

[@vanessacontessa5492]

Where was this video taken? What village in Vietnam?

[@Annaloannguyen]

it is in Bac Ninh. you can message me via ig i will give you with the hair info . My ig loannguyen_vietnam

[@theworddoner]

This video blew my mind. I didn't even realise the hair extensions are made of real hair. I thought it was synthetic. People actually sell hair like that? And other people are willing to wear it?! At the very least it seems consensual. (Apart from the china trade that is.) I feel sad for the people who are selling their hair. I don't think I would have done that myself if it weren't for a good cause or if I'm in a bad situation. But at least they get some money this way. It's employing people as well.

[@davidarundel6187]

I've grown long hair for over 40 years . None of it has ever been sold , though it has been cut 3 times , in support of friends who had cancer . I still have the 3 cuttings , stashed . Any that comes out while brushing , is teased out , and put out into the wild , for small birds to line their nests with , or it goes into the compost , as food for the worms .

[@thiernosouleymanebah4122]

*It's a shame that you are ashamed of you natural hair and are obligated to put someone hair in order to feel accepted by society*

[@ec721]

yeah a shame but why are they ashamed?

[@Stray___]

The selling process is completely voluntary, but the women receive just a little percent of the total reselling value. Its a complex situation and trying to tell if it's ethical or not may seem like splitting hairs...

[@billtheunjust]

Interesting. I've been growing my hair to donate, I had no idea there was such a market. I'll still donate though, $7 isnt much here.

[@dorarandom7870]

A lot of people in the comments say they feel bad for people that love their hair but have to give it up in order to eat. But when you look at it, many businesses work like this. For example, hiring someone for a minimum wage while their labor is worth much more than that but the person takes it because they don't have any other opportunities. It's easy to take advantage of desperate people because they might not get a better opportunity in time. Now, I am not saying to not be compassionate towards people who are really struggling, I'm rather saying to extend your compassion to a place that could also be your work place. Talk about your wages and see if someone is getting paid a lot less even tho they do the same amount of labor or find out if you're the one being under paid. That's how you bring change.

[@nhall1270]

It takes years to grow that length just to cut it off and get a few dollars.

[@Jessica-nx8or]

A few dollar is a lot to them

[@dextertamparong7671]

@@Jessica-nx8or here in my country its not common most of the girl here just go straight to the parlor and their hair goes to the bin

[@kieragard]

honestly, it's working out for everyone. people are willingly parting with their hair for money and customers are happily buying it. everything is done willingly.

[@darlenek.acosta2241]

It’s done willingly because they have no other choice.

[@susieblanco2722]

@@darlenek.acosta2241 they do

[@fourdoorsmorehoes]

@@darlenek.acosta2241 of course they do, selling your hair is just some extra money

[@kieragard]

@@darlenek.acosta2241 yeah they could just say no. That lady wasn't beating or threatening anyone. She made an offer and those women felt it was worth more than their hair.

[@bngr_bngr]

The great part is that the hair grows back and then resold. Its a renewable resource.

[@Babette1986]

As a health worker I understand the need to have a human hair wig for those that have balding from medical treatments or illness in general. Of course some of these practices are abhorrent but it still won't stop the need for these items.

[@evil1by1]

It ain't the sick sis, who among us is always getting jet black weaves?

[@JRPGGUY]

A measly $7 only to be sold for thousands. Wow

[@bngr_bngr]

Its not like the hair is sold directly to the end consumer as is.

[@armisticez]

@@bngr_bngr so you are expecting to spend $1000 for a product that cost $7?

[@toomanymarys7355]

@@armisticez It takes like 4-8 heads of hair and many many hours of labor to make a human hair wig, then more to style it. You're paying mostly for the labor.

[@armisticez]

@@toomanymarys7355 well the most expensive Wig in the factory was $105. So where will the remain $1000-$2000 go. I'm sure transporting it isn't that expensive

[@chocolatefaerie]

Its not as simple as that, 30 percent is thrown away as they are too short. There are machines, labour's, factory, transportation, import tax etc. Bleached hair will also lose another 30 percent in weight. A lace front takes someone 3 to5 days to knit. Thats like saying a slab of meat is 4 dollars worth and restaurants sell for 20

[@toboncornell]

This also common now days in South America. For example, in the Colombian and Venezuelan border, Venezuelan women sale their hair for as much as 5 dollars

[@lillian9221]

If only African women realized they are pretty even with short natural hair.

[@LeratoM98]

And even long, natural hair. Because it can grow big/long... But not enough of us take the time to learn to take care of our hair and it's so sad.

[@sizedtoaster0278]

168,000$ in Vietnamese Dong. Yes....that is the name of the currency. And yes...I giggled a little.

[@tengkualiff]

At least they got some income during the pandemic. Good job!

[@cleopatrajones90]

does anybody know how much 1kg of hair costs originally in China?

[@cleopatrajones90]

i underline „originally“

[@raymondblind5836]

Investing in cryptocurrency is the best way of getting ahead to build wealth, investing remains a priority. The Cryptocurrency market has plenty of opportunities to earn a decent payouts, with the right skills and proper understanding of how the market works, I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life..

[@raphaeljesse2798]

You're right sir

[@ujongokoi4748]

Natural, there's a lot of math involved in forex trading,

[@attahdaniel7937]

but this is often presented in forms of daunting technical charts, indicators, patterns.

[@anekebenjaminuchenna4280]

Trading systems allow you to limit the factor of emotional influence on decision-making,

[@nurudeenbalogun899]

as well as to give the trade a certain degree of systemic character.

[@Peleski]

I feel like many of the women would be proud of their long hair. Although they got a little money for it, they would miss it. You only have so many years that you can grow healthy, strong, long hair.

[@bernardfurst9133]

I don't see what the controversy is about. People are selling their hair by choice and make more than they would by most other means. The customer and donor are happy.

[@FabledExistance]

I don’t think this video is about controversy, just awareness. So good job not finding the non-existing controversy I guess

[@bernardfurst9133]

@@FabledExistance yeah but awareness is for a reason. Like "this is bad, please don't buy real human hair because you are supporting this". Even with products that are made in sweatshops, their conditions aren't good but what would they be doing if we shut them down? Probably on the street, or another similar job, or even on government assistance. We like to champion causes, especially when we're young and idealistic. But we grow up and see the realities of the human existence and many of those perspectives change. We should focus on the worst of them and on ones we can control in any way. I don't see the harm in this kind of business.

[@ianmiles2505]

Like fairtrade coffee(not)

[@Knowledgehub1308]

We here in Pakistan sell our comb hair in 1kg = 22$ so it may as same as when we count quantity of kg hairs

[@electrikoptik]

Nappy hair is unwanted. Time to get angry on twitter and cancel the hair trade world.

[@izzatihassan1475]

I'm quite amused that american salons keep saying they sell Malaysian hair extensions... I've yet to see/hear any Malaysian selling hair to make into wigs. I guess they buy discarded, cut hair from Malaysian salons.

[@hannibaljustincase9985]

or maybe they just told the hair is Malaysian, while in fact it comes from any other Asian country. I mean it's not like those dealers are interested in _true_ origin of the hair

[@samuelmidzi8240]

Still can't get past the idea of people wearing other people's hair.

[@GodsChild-X]

Ummm question 🙋🏽‍♀️. Sooooo what kind of animal does synthetic hair comes from? I though synthetic hair was a man made fiber.

[@BraidsByPuffQueenKayla]

And what if she's finds someone who doesn't want to sell their beautiful hair. I had no idea. Human hair farming is a thing?

[@sutapamazumdar5244]

Truly eye opener. Thank you.

[@Reezy884]

Y’all don’t find it weird that human beings cut off their hair and give it to another human to wear it? 🥴 imagine explaining this to an alien

[@MA-zg2pz]

Well typically people just explain it to other people. People typically understand.

[@Reezy884]

@@MA-zg2pz people typically also understand a fur coat. Still if you think about it, wearing the skin of an animal is pretty damn weird

[@MA-zg2pz]

@@Reezy884 🥴 a wig doesn’t include a persons scalp though.

[@Reezy884]

@@MA-zg2pz doesn’t have to. All it has to include is wearing something that’s naturally grown from another’s body for personal looks 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@MA-zg2pz]

@@Reezy884 Do organ transplants just send you over the edge? A wig is nothing. You can take it off.

[@mastervz4806]

Respect. I love Vietnam.

[@anastasiyabksi1281]

I never understand why you would want someone else's hair on your head, 🥴🥴🥴🥴💁🏽‍♀️

[@nikhilnagalkar465]

When you go bald then you would understand.

[@irfanguttedar6695]

Why don't u go to tirupathi.....

[@Deklectic]

I'd have to wear a synthetic realistic looking wig if I had to wear one.. Something about wearing another persons hair is weird and gross to me only because it comes out of another humans body... I don't see nothing wrong with anyone else's preference its just for me personally its gross for what ever reason.. And this is coming from someone who is an organ donor which is a complete contradiction and cancels out my belief.. See I'd give one of my own body parts up to save someone else's life but I wouldn't accept or take anyone else's organ if I needed it.. My time is my time is my motto for myself...Like I said complete contradiction...😐🤷

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

Nice video.

[@jakek6728]

If i ever won the lottery I would love to travel to countries like this and just hand out $1000 to people struggling. Some people don't make that in a year and it would change their life. Being able to change thousands of peoples lives in a positive way would be amazing

[@priscillawagner8520]

Crazy the mark up! 🌼❤️

[@ryanvanrensburg6073]

Hair is keratinized epithelium.. which is basically hardened skin cells.. so when you put someone else's hair on your head, you are wearing their skin.. it's very disturbing really.