Do you know that you can sell your hair for hundreds to even thousands of dollars?
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It’s one of the easiest ways to make some pocket money, as long as you have long, healthy hair.
It’s not as strange as it sounds.
In fact, a lot of people prefer to use real hair in wigs and hair extensions instead of synthetic ones and will pay a pretty penny to get it.
And since hair grows back again, you can sell your hair multiple times throughout your life.
Plus, anyone who can grow hair can do it! It doesn’t matter if you’re male or female, how old you are, or what your race is. As long as you have high-quality hair to grow, you have the potential to make money.
Here’s information on what hair buyers are looking for, how to go about selling your hair, and the best places to put up your hair for sale.
Or, if you already know how to sell your hair, you can jump to the list of places to sell your hair online to browse.
How to Get Your Hair Ready to Sell
Before we dive into how to sell your hair, take note that we’re talking about human hair that grows from your head.
Nowhere else. I have to make that distinction very clear early on.
1. Start growing and grooming your hair.
Before you list your hair for sale, you first have to think about what hair buyers are looking for.
First, buyers are looking for virgin hair; that is, they want untreated hair free of hair dye (not even highlights) and chemical treatments, such as relaxants or perms.
You’ll also have to have healthy habits. Evidence of cigarette smoking, drinking, and drugs show up in your hair even after it’s been washed.
You might not think it matters, but hair that is not washed daily is more sellable. Too much washing strips hair of its natural oils and makes it look dull and prone to split ends, making it undesirable.
Also, hair that is not heat-treated or sun-damaged is definitely more desirable, so if you’re planning to sell your hair soon, stop using blow dryers, curling irons, straightening irons, or any other heating tool to style your hair. Start wearing hats when going out in the sun.
Another thing you need to do while you’re growing your hair is to trim it evenly; no layers or asymmetrical cuts.
Lastly, hair buyers want at least 10 inches to work with. Some buyers even require a minimum of 16 inches.
On average, hair grows about a half inch per month. Depending on where you’re starting, you are likely looking at over a year of hair growth before you can even think about selling it.
This isn’t going to replace your full-time job, but think of this as a nice way to come into a windfall of cash every few years.
2. Find the best online marketplace.
You wouldn’t want to be selling your hair sale in a dark alley.
Fortunately, you don’t have to.
Legitimate, hair-specific buy and sell marketplaces are online, which means you can make the sale at the comfort of your own home.
Just make sure you pick a site from those I listed below that would work best for you.
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3. Work on your listing.
Each hair marketplace would have different forms and information that you’d have to provide, but here are general guidelines when working on your listing:
- Measure your hair. You’ll need the length and thickness (in inches) because this is one of the biggest factors for buying hair.
- Complete details about your hair. Is it blonde with a tinge of red? Is it thick or thin? Curly or straight? Make sure you describe your hair as accurately as possible.
- Haircare habits. This is where buyers will have an idea about the quality of your hair. Indicate if you drink, smoke, or take any kind of drugs.
Open up about the shampoos, conditioners, and other products and treatments you use for your hair. How do you style your hair and what equipment do you regularly use?
- Hair photos. Deep condition the day before and then ask a friend to help you take high-quality pictures of your hair.
Go out in the sunlight, so you can showcase the color of your hair. Take photos of your hair spread out, in a ponytail, in a braid.
- Price it right. Compare pricing from other sellers on the sites, so you’d be able to price your hair fairly.
4. Close the deal
Almost all the sites below allow you to communicate with potential buyers first before deciding if you want to sell or not.
Sometimes, buyers will ask for discounts.
Other times, they’ll just double-check details about your hair.
Important: Don’t cut your hair before you’ve found a buyer and received payment!
If you cut your hair and the deal falls through, the already-cut hair will lose its luster and you’ll have difficulty finding a buyer for it.
Once you’ve sold your hair, you need to go to the salon to have it professionally cut.
Your clients would specify how exactly they want hair removed from your head.
Secure the hair with bands afterward, and then pack and ship it properly. Purchase insurance or delivery confirmation for your protection.
I’ve also seen quite a few ads that offer the buyer the chance to cut the hair themselves. You may want to decide if this is something you’d be comfortable offering before you make a listing.
If you do go this route, make sure you negotiate a little more money as well.
How much can you make selling hair?
The price of human hair varies significantly.
For example, a 20-inch long, 3-inch thick lock of hair can pull in somewhere between $100 to $1000.
This amount will also depend on various factors like your location, ethnicity, color and quality of your hair, and so on.
The average length of hair being sold is around 20 inches, but hair measuring 28 inches and above can bag higher prices.
If you have long locks of hair that you’ve cut in the past and want to sell, this won’t be accepted anymore because buyers prefer hair to be freshly cut.
Can you get paid to donate hair?
If you’ve been trying to sell your hair for months and you don’t want to pay a listing fee anymore, you can consider donating your hair to charity instead.
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Unlike “donating plasma” but still receiving cash, donating hair means you’re giving it away completely without any monetary compensation.
You’d probably get teary-eyed doing it too, as most of the recipients are kids and adults who suffer from medical hair loss.
If this is something you’re interested in, check out Locks of Love, Wigs For Kids, Children With Hair Loss, and Little Princess Trust – all of which cater to patients who’ll use your hair for wigs.
The Best Places to Sell Hair Online and Earn Cash
If you’re committed to selling your hair and have taken all of the above preparations, here are the best online marketplaces to get started.
Be sure to check them all out as every site offers different benefits and features.
1. HairSellon
Most people who want to sell their hair go straight to Hair Sellon.
What I like best about this site is their hair price calculator.
It gives you an estimate of how much your hair is worth based on the length, thickness, and color. You control the price of your hair here, and potential buyers can negotiate with you directly.
2. BuyAndSellHair
Next up is BuyAndSellHair.com which touts itself as the #1 Human Hair Marketplace.
“Human Hair Marketplace” may sound creepy, but it’s accurate.
Either way, there’s a fee to list your hair here of $14.50 per 3 months. The platform looks more modern than HairSellOn, and there’s a chance you’d get featured at the home page.
There are a number of success stories here and you can browse recently sold hair to get an idea of how to improve your own listings.
3. Online Hair Affair
Launched in 2008, this website lets you post hair-for-sale ads for $12 for one month, $15 for six months, or $20 for 1 year. Your ad will be active until your hair is sold or the time runs out, whichever comes first.
It isn’t as active as the first two sites, but you do have a bigger space to advertise your hair and an international audience.
There’s also a category for gray hair here, which isn’t available on other sites.
4. World of Wigs
You can sell your hair directly to wigmakers.
They price hair differently here, going by weight instead (about $3 to $5 per oz. of hair).
You’d have to send your hair to World of Wigs, and you will only be paid once the company has received your hair and assessed it.
Note that World of Wigs are only accepting hair 16 inches or longer at this time.
Check availability since this company sometimes pauses buying hair, but resumes eventually.
5. SellHairStore.com
They claim to be the first and the biggest international hair marketplace. Listing your hair here makes it visible to more potential buyers.
Plus, listing your hair here is free forever until your hair is sold.
People pick SellHairStore.com when they want to sell hair that’s shorter than 15 inches or if you’re open to cut depending on client’s length request.
The platform also lets you control the pricing for your hair ad.
6. Banbury Postiche
Banbury Postiche is the oldest wig maker in the UK, making wigs since the early 1920s. They can use or purchase hair that’s at least 14 inches long, tied at the nape prior to cutting.
They pay between £3 to £7 for every 25 grams of hair. Longer, more pristine hair gets better prices.
To get more information on how to sell your hair to them, send them an email at sales[at]banburypostiche[dot]com.
7. Bloomsbury at The London Hair Clinic
Bloomsbury makes wigs for hair loss sufferers, such as those suffering from alopecia or undergoing chemotherapy.
The minimum acceptable requirements of hair that they buy include a length of at least 18 inches, virgin hair, and securely tied into a ponytail.
If your hair meets their requirements, you can send them your hair
To get further information on how to sell your hair to them, email them at info[at]thelondonhairclinic[dot]com.
8. LoveJewelsHair.com
Jewel’s Hair is different from other marketplaces on this list because it has a salon facility, which means you can get the usual hair salon services like cut, color, extensions, braiding and other styling.
Then if you decide to sell your hair, you’ll get paid for it, too!
The only requirement of Love Jewel’s Hair is having a minimum of 8 inches. Your hair shouldn’t be relaxed or chemically-damaged as well. The actual value would be based on the length and thickness of your hair, which is evaluated in person.
The only downside is that Jewel’s Hair only has one branch, in Arizona, so not everyone can take advantage of their hair-buying program.
9. Online Classified Ads and Selling Apps
Selling your hair through classified ads or selling apps may seem bizarre, but we are in an era when you can put up pretty much anything for sale and you’ll find a buyer.
You might be surprised at who’s interested in buying your hair.
Your local hairdresser may be on the market for hair to make into hair extensions.
Or a college student studying to be a hairdresser might need some human hair.
Or a neighbor might be looking for hair to make into fishing lures.
As with anything else that has to do with dealing with strangers, keep yourself safe. Do not give out personal information and use secure payment methods like PayPal and Venmo.
Here are some sites where you can possibly sell your hair.
Make Money Selling Your Hair!
Selling your hair may seem odd to some people, but if you’re in need of extra cash, it could definitely help out.
$500 to $1000 for 20-inch long hair isn’t small change; it could pay off a bill or take care of groceries for a week or two.
Just make sure you’re mentally and emotionally prepared for the sudden and drastic physical change that cutting off your hair involves.
Other things you can sell that your body generates for free include plasma, eggs, and breastmilk.
