Indian hair is popular among African women because it is silky, smooth, and rarely tangles.
The BBC went on a hunt to find out where human hair comes from. They went to Tirumala Tirupati temple, which is “the most visited temple in the world, with 40 to 50 million people visiting every year to pray for their problems to be solved,” but it is also the world’s largest collector of human hair, with 500 tonnes. The majority of the virgin hair used in wigs in Africa and around the world comes from here.”
Not only Tirumala temple, but all temples in India, are involved in the sale of human hair.
Although long hair is considered a sign of virtue and beauty in India, Indian women will gladly give it up if their prayers are answered. According to the BBC, “sacrificing hair to the gods is thought to bring good luck.”
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Many Indian women believe that shaving their hair is a spiritual experience, but do they realize or care that their hair is sold and immediately shipped to wig-making factories?
The majority of the hair from various temples is taken to factories where it is steamed and curled before being shipped to African women who are eager to wear this hair even at the most expensive prices.
However, it is not only from hair sacrificed to idols that Indian women sell the hair that falls off when they comb their hair, which is known as comb waste.
An Indian wig seller told the BBC how excited African women are when they walk into a wig shop.
At its heart, it begs the question of why we, African women, feel the need to wear hair shaved from other women’s heads.
SOURCE: Pulse.com.gh
