Lush, beautiful curls are having a major moment right now. More people than ever want to rock gorgeous spirals and waves. As demand rises, the value of real curly hair has skyrocketed. So how much can locks with natural texture actually earn?
What Makes Curly Hair So Valuable?
Several key factors make curly hair extremely desirable:
Scarcity – Only around 8-15% of the population worldwide has natural curly hair. Genetics limits how much exists. With corporations and consumers wanting it, supplies can’t keep up.
Versatility – Real curls work wonderfully for wigs, extensions, hairpieces, and transplant plugs. Their flexible texture blends beautifully into nearly any hairstyle or beauty product.
Trendiness – The natural hair movement boosts appreciation for textured locks. The popularity of curly cuts and styling means curls now rule the runway and red carpet.
Profitability – Materials made using harvested natural human hair bring in multi-million dollar revenues annually across global markets. Real curls prove extremely lucrative.
With all those dynamics making it a hot commodity, quality curly hair demands top dollar prices.
How Much Do Companies Pay for Curly Hair?
The exact amount companies pay varies depending on:
- Hair texture and curl pattern
- Length of the cut hair
- Amount of gray hair mixed in
- How virgin or unprocessed the curls are
On average, prices fall into these ranges:
| Hair Type | Price Per Ounce |
|---|---|
| Tight Coils (3B-4C) | $70-$85 |
| Loose Curls (3A) | $80-$100 |
| Longer than 16 inches | $115-$150 |
| Virgin/Untreated | +25% more |
So expect around $100 per ounce for average-length, type 3A/B natural curls. That can translate into thousands of dollars for a full head!
As an example, if a curly-haired person has around 6 ounces (170 grams) of hair, companies would pay approximately $600 or more to purchase it.
For hair 16-inches or longer in pristine condition, payouts escalate into the tens of thousands!
Why Do Companies Want to Buy Curly Hair?
Several lucrative industries crave natural curly hair:
Wig Manufacturing
Real hair wigs reach prices upwards of $3,000+ for full lace front human hair styles. Top quality spirals and waves provide the realism and versatility high-end wig buyers demand.
Hair Extensions
Clip-ins, tape-ins, halos and other add-in extensions rely on sources of thick, strong curly hair that blend flawlessly with client’s own locks.
Hairpieces and Toppers
Partial hair systems benefit greatly from soft yet substantial curly bases that anchor naturals blends on top subtly and comfortably.
Hair Transplants
Plugs made with natural curly and wavy follicles offer the best possibilities for seamlessly regenerating growth through surgical hair restoration.
No other hair type offers the same level of flexibility and performance. Real curls’ unique attributes make manufacturing products that sell for exorbitant prices possible.
Can You Sell Your Own Curly Hair?
Yes! If your locks meet certain standards, selling them can bring extra income.
Follow these key steps to earn cash for your curls:
Evaluate texture, length, color
Virgin hair with sought-after traits like significant length, perfect spiral clumping or rare colors fetches higher quotes. Photograph your hair styled naturally from all angles so buyers can assess.
Grow it out long
Companies pay premium rates if hair reaches 12 inches or longer. Let those lovely locks grow beforehand to drive up their value!
Get a quote
Contact major hair resellers through their websites to describe your hair and get a price-per-ounce offer. Negotiate politely if it seems low.
Schedule a hair buying session
The company will appoint a trained hair tech to meet you and remove the agreed-upon amount of hair carefully. They handle the cutting traditionally by hand. Most also trim ends to maximize thickness.
Receive payment
You walk away richer with cash-in-hand immediately! Then it’s time for a fabulous new curly cut to show off.
As long as you avoid questionable companies and contracts, selling real hair yourself aligns with an empowering personal choice.
Who Buys Curly Hair?
Several types of vendors actively purchase curly and wavy hair in the beauty marketplace:
Hair Factories
Large factories in Asia directly manufacture hair goods to sell commercially on a massive scale. They seek out huge amounts of natural hair.
Small Businesses
Boutique brands wanting unique sources for wig-making and extensions scout for high-quality curls perfect for their clients.
Hair Resellers
Massive online hair traders serve as brokers between sellers, factories and stylists seeking premium cuts of curly hair. They buy then resell locks for profit.
Salons
Some salons purchase hair from clients directly to offset the cost of inventory for services like halo extensions that use curly bases.
Is Selling Curly Hair Ethical?
Given the intimate nature of hair and monetary aspect of selling it, ethics questions arise. As long as the process aligns with certain standards, curly hair selling avoids controversy:
Consensual – Sellers must freely elect to sell their hair without coercion. This personal choice brings empowering financial gains for the curly-haired.
Transparent – Buyers and sellers should transparently agree on payment amount beforehand with signed consent. Open communication ensures understanding on both sides.
Secure – Whoever removes the purchased hair must handle it skillfully using sanitized tools and gentle technique for the seller’s safety and comfort.
When those ethical values get upheld for willing participants to achieve mutual satisfaction through fair exchange, buying and selling curly hair poses no problem at all!
Curly Hair Price History
| Year | Price Per Ounce | Length/Condition Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $20-$30 | Long virgin hair |
| 1980 | $40-$50 | Increased demand for wigs drives prices higher |
| 1990 | $60-$75 | Curly perm trend peaks value |
| 2000 | $100-$120 | Higher labor costs + shortages increase rates |
| 2005 | $150-$175 | Curly cuts popularity accelerates worth |
| 2015 | $200-$250 | Social media brand influence pays premiums |
| 2022 | $250-$300+ | Record inflation/low supply means skyrocketing bids |
Over 50 years, prices for premium cuts of curly hair rose by over 1,000% thanks to unrelenting demand against very limited supply. As trends like embracing natural texture accelerate among global consumers, its extremely scarce availability means costs will undoubtedly continue climbing over this decade as well.
For those with gorgeous natural spirals and waves flowing from their heads, a valuable biological asset exists ready to be cherished – or cashed in!
Conclusion
From the genetics of texture to global trading markets hungry for natural coils, myriad factors make curly hair literally worth its weight – in gold!
Understanding the elements underlying those increasing monetary values helps unlock curly hair’s profit potential responsibly. Whether embracing luscious locks.
FAQ About Curly Hair Value
Still have questions about cashing in? Check out quick answers to these common queries:
Does dying/heat damage reduce price paid?
Yes. Companies pay premium rates specifically for healthy, virgin curly hair in pristine condition. Any chemical processing or heat tool damage dramatically lowers quotes.
Can I sell my curly hair more than once?
Yes, if you grow it long again after cutting it initially! Sell conservatively the first go-around, for instance only half your head’s hair. Once grown back out, additional hair can get sold.
How much hair has to be cut when selling it?
Most buyers want thick ponytails or at least 4 ounces minimum to make the purchase worthwhile on their end from a production standpoint. Many curly sellers donate smaller clippings too.
Does curly hair price vary by ethnicity?
Yes – companies most prize hair matching the same visual properties as populations where their end products get sold. So dominant local demographics influence regional pricing ranges.
What does hair get made into after purchase?
Companies use real curly and wavy hair to manufacture wigs, extensions, hair additions, medical hair replacement units and more. Only a tiny portion goes to stuffing upholstery or sweep hair!