It’s probably not much of a surprise to anyone who knows anything at all about Remy hair; a good amount of it comes from women in India who offer up their Rapunzel-length braids as a sacrifice to the Gods at various Hindu temples. Tirupati, one of the most visited, can safely anticipate several tons of Remy hair to be donated every year.
The value of the pilgrimages that end with human hair sacrifices is very clear. Healthy human hair grows approximately half an inch per month; that’s only six inches of growth per year. Imagine how many years it takes to nourish hair that falls well below the knees when unbraided. For many Indian women, the journey marks their first hair cut since birth. It’s not unusual for women to be in their 30’s or 40’s before seeking a favor from the Gods in this manner. The intent is strong and has no monetary benefit.
The Remy hair does have other value as a trade-worthy commodity. Women who have nothing else to give can offer this deeply personal part of themselves to the Gods. Along with giving up their hair, they are seen as sacrificing their own personal egos for their spiritual good. Placing themselves in a better light might make them more worthy to have their prayers answered. It levels the field for those seeking a God’s blessings. Goats, money, food, hair – it’s all accepted.
However, it might come as a huge surprise to many of these respectful, grateful worshippers to know just how extremely lucrative their sacrifices can be. In areas of the country where there’s extreme poverty, even one ounce of Remy hair could reap enough money to feed a moderately-sized family for a month or longer. Now consider that some braids weigh a few pounds and you’ll have a good idea of the monetary value represented by each donor. Multiply the result by nine million devotees yearly (yes, NINE MILLION and yes, YEARLY) and it’s easy enough to connect the dots. These women are supporting several segments of a multi-billion dollar industry.
There are a few reasons for shearing the devotees like sheep. From a purely psychological perspective, a fully-shaved head leaves no room for vanity. Baldness signifies that the sacrifice was as huge as it could be; the giver has nothing left to give. The hair-growing process must begin anew, without any ‘starter’ growth. The ego is brought down to zero. From the economical standpoint, shaving every head results in more hair and more money. The temple barbers put all of the sacrificed hair into huge sacks. The sacks are placed inside special steel containers. Eventually, the warehouses are completely stocked and it’s time to reap the rewards.
Auction notices are delivered in several languages predominant in various southern India cultural zones. At least three printed newspapers carry the advertisements for the upcoming event. In addition, the temples’ web sites carry updated information. Sacrifices that have been occurring for over a thousand years have reached the modern era of cyber-promotion. It’s well worth it. How much does the temple get from these auctions? Tirupati realized in excess of one million dollars for three million kilos of hair. Work that math! It’s a staggering profit at every stop along the way.
Every ounce of shorn hair is auctioned off to the highest bidder amongst all of the Remy hair exporters. It’s not an exaggeration to point out that nothing is left on the cutting room floor. Yes, Remy hair that is tied and bundled with the cuticles in alignment is worth the ultimate price. This doesn’t change the fact that every bit of the human hair is worth something. None of it is discarded. It’s a verifiable truth that some exporters pass the ‘floor-swept’ hair off as Remy hair to unsuspecting buyers. It’s also just as true that some buyers are completely aware of what they’re getting but they like the lower price. They see value in the ‘sweepings’ for extensions and fillers. Extensions in the entertainment industry can fetch as much as $3000.
Similar to the ongoing trend in wearing full lace wigs, lace front wigs and hair extensions, there’s a divinely matching trend in hair donations. The Hindu temples report that the amount of hair that’s shorn and gathered has been on the upswing every year for the past quarter-century. In fact, it’s such an overwhelming activity that the temples keep as many as 600 barbers fully employed as they work around the clock. It has even become necessary to hire some women for hair-sheering duty because there aren’t always enough men to satisfy the demand. The women can only sheer other women.
Some Indian women understand the value beyond a sacrificial one. They save the hair from their daily brushings and put it into a small bag. A hair broker comes by about once a week and exchanges the bag for a small sum of money. For them, it might seem like a more immediate response to any prayers for economic assistance. They make a steady profit without being shorn, unlike the devotees who are paid nothing and walk away blessedly bald.
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