They call it a billion-dollar industry. According to the Guardian newspaper, in Britain sales are up to £60 million ($78.72 million) a year and growing. But what lies underneath is a global tale of exploitation. Since the 1900s, when the hair trade boomed in western countries, controversy has surrounded it as to how hair is collected. Advocates see it as an amicable sale in that where there is demand supply appears. Critics view it as grotesque and controversial. In developing countries rich in culture and customs such as Vietnam, India, Malaysia, and Cambodia, women really love long and glorious tresses. It should come as no surprise if you see a woman gently combing out a knot and massaging her strands with coconut oil in the early morning. It remains a tradition marker of beauty though it takes time and meticulousness. A Vietnamese woman named Nguyen Thi Thuy in the series about hair extensions of Refinery29. More importantly the industry has not grown or been regulated in these places. Therefore, over the years, women like Thuy (pictured above) have been targets for hair traders. She said the highest amount she has ever been offered is VND70,000 ($3) while the cost, as estimated by the Guardian, in an upmarket central London salon is around £900 ($1,180). So, what if she agrees and falls victim to that exploitation? These foreign collectors target people who are hard up and desperate to sell their hair. They fall victim to this business as they need money… [Read full story]
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