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cover of episode Why the world buys India’s hair

Why the world buys India’s hair

2025/3/27
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What in the World
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India is the world's largest exporter of human hair, sourcing it from temples and surprisingly, garbage. The process involves collecting, cleaning, and exporting the hair, mostly to China, the US, and Europe. Different hair types and qualities command different prices, with temple hair being the most valuable.
  • India exports 200-500 billion worth of hair annually.
  • Hair is sourced from temples and garbage.
  • Temple hair is auctioned, while other hair is collected by pickers.
  • China is the main wig manufacturer, despite India supplying most of the hair.
  • Indian hair is popular due to its quality and variety.

Shownotes Transcript

The global hair wig and extension market was valued at $7.5billion in 2024. Hair is big business - especially in India, which is the world’s biggest exporter of human hair, supplying 85% of global demand. Some comes from temples, where people shave off their hair as an act of devotion to the gods. It is then sold at auction. The rest comes from hair pickers who collect it from women’s combs, salons and even rubbish dumps.

Priti Gupta, a journalist in Mumbai, talks us through the Indian hair industry. We ask why Indian hair is so sought after - and why it’s China that’s leading the wig export market, instead of India. BBC journalist Nadia Gyane explains where this hair ends up - and if customers know or care where their hair comes from? And drag artist Zeeshan Ali in Mumbai tells us why wigs are so important to their act.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison, Elena Angelides and Julia Ross-Roy Video Journalists: Baldeep Chahal and Kesewaa Browne Editor: Verity Wilde