It was in 2012 that I first watched a documentary revealing shocking details about the source of hair extensions eagerly bought by many Black women.
That video revealed shocking facts highlighted in the BBC sponsored investigative report (featuring an interview of a young female Black Pop Star – Jamelia).
I’ve linked to the full piece below (published via BellaNaija.com in December 2008) which reveals that human hair used is commonly obtained via the following sources…
[NB: At the end of this post, I also link to an unflattering Life and style report, by UK’s The Guardian newspaper titled “The hair trade’s dirty secret”]
1. Religious Sacrifice:
E.g Little Hindu kids have their hair scraped (some crying) as Religious Sacrifice to cure illness or ward off evil
Adult Hindus/the kids’ parents do same.
These religious-practitioner donors, assume their hair gets thrown away.
However, as Jemelia said (which the video I watched 4 years ago confirms): most have no idea their hair gets sold!
That’s why she says: ” to me, it appears to be the ultimate in exploitation.”
I agree 100% with her.
2. White females who cut/sell their hair for money e.g in places like Russia.
3. Corpses(?): Jamelia says someone hinted that some of the hairs could be taken off corpses!
Little wonder that she’s vowed never to wear those extensions again!
Personally, I’ve never liked the idea of pinning another human being’s hair to one’s head in an effort to look “more beautiful” (whatever that means).
All these revelations now justify the position I’ve adopted.
For me, accepting to use such products was simply a sign of a lack of healthy self-esteem or at best mis-orientation.
That’s why I encourage my daughters to LOVE their hair, as it is.
Indeed, I’ve gone a step further to invest time in personally helping them nurture and dress their hair naturally e.g using Sheabutter.
The results have excited my 10 year old girl enough to make her confidently go on outings wearing the “style” I work her hair into.
In the course of doing this I’ve discovered that I actually enjoy exploring creative ways to help my girls make their hair.
Yep. I’m their father, yet I love working on their hair!
So I plan to attend a short hairdressing (NOT hair attaching!) training to formally learn what it involves.
My purpose is however to do it with little or no chemical based hair treatment products.
I believe that by so doing, as a man, I can help my girls see and believe in their natural hair.
If more men would just take interest in helping the females in their lives make the most of their natural hair, they’re likely to feel less psychologically pressured to join the rat race of human hair extension wearing – with it’s attendant risks and indignities!
Read the BBC investigative report/interview:
I’m glad Jamelia had the courage to do, and also say, what many otherwise intelligent women of her kind have failed to do!
Read the full piece below. I’ll see if I can find and add the link to the video I watched in 2012.
The Story Behind Human Hair – By BellaNaija.com (Published in December 2008)
Related Article
The hair trade’s dirty secret | Life and style | The Guardian
You’re reading [RECOMMENDED] “Why I’ll never wear hair extensions again” – by pop star Jamelia (BBC Report) & “The hair trade’s dirty secret” – by TheGuardian.com] by Tayo Solagbade, originally posted on his Daily Self-Development (SD) Nuggets™ blog. If you loved reading this post, be sure to follow Tayo on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
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