Youve probably heard of donating your hair to nonprofit organizations.
But did you know you could actually sell your hair to companies that make wigs for profit?
We promise its not as weird as it sounds.
Long, healthy hair is used to create wigs, hair extensions and weaves.
Hair buyers will pay hundreds of dollars for long locks, especially if its a unique color.
It takes some time and effort to sell your hair.
Heres everything you gotta know.
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How Much Money Can You Sell Your Hair For?
Long, thick natural red and blond hair generally fetches the best price.
Undyed and untreated hair, aka virgin hair, is also worth more.
Here are some estimates we found by using onlinehair price calculators.
Men and women can sell their hair.
So can children, too.
Apparently, childrens hair can sell for a slightly higher price because there are fewer sellers in the market.
Parents: This might be a nice way to pay for your kids next haircut.
Selling hair wont be a steady side gig.
Hair grows about half an inch a month, or 6 inches a year.
If your hair grows really fast, you might be able to do this once a year at most.
Treated hair just doesnt make good wigs or hair extensions.
Check out some of our favorite ways to make easy money below.
Theres also a handful of websites where you might sell your hair online.
Post a listing for your long locks, and people who buy hair will contact you through the site.
(Sort of like OfferUp, but for human hair.)
Many of these sites also have online forums where hair sellers can ask questions and get advice from peers.
For a fee, you could create an ad onBuyAndSellHair.comthat runs for three months.
it’s possible for you to exchange messages with potential hair buyers through the site.
HairSellon recommends using PayPal for transactions.
you’re free to also play around with itshair price calculator.
Work On Your Listing
Youre not the only seller out there, so its important to stand out.
Play up your hairs strengths, but be as truthful and accurate as possible in your listing.
Here are a few tips to make the most of your online hair listing.
Photos in natural light help bring out the color and shine of your hair.
A healthy diet helps your hair produce natural oils, which can boost the value of your hair.
Dig into the details:Dont shy away from details about what makes your long hair unique.
Are you a strawberry blonde or have striking natural highlights?
As you might imagine, the more attractive and shiny your hair, the higher the bids will be.
You should never cut your hair before the sale is final.
It can be harder to find a new buyer if your hair isnt freshly cut or properly preserved.
Need a Hand With Bills?
Listen, we know its tough out there.
But theres no shame in asking for help.
These companiesmake it easy to help yourself and your bank account.
Buyers will also give you instructions on how the hair should be cut and shipped.
Package your hair in a zip-close bag or something similar when you mail it out.
Will You Even Be Able to Sell Your Hair?
The global hair market is surprisingly complicated and competitive.
The average price of human hair is gradually decreasing across the world, the report notes.
This benefits manufacturers since they can source human hair at better prices.
Its a buyers market, in other words.
Selling your hair might take awhile, or you might have to settle for a lower offer.
You also might not be able to find a buyer at all.
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Rachel Christian is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.
She focuses on retirement, investing, taxes and life insurance.
