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In ancient China, hair carried symbols of complex emotions and deep cultural significance.
Over time, this traditional element has evolved into a unique business – the acquisition and reuse of hair.
01
In those dusty times, hair was worth more than we can imagine today.
People's thirst for hair is not only to satisfy vanity, but also to express personal emotions and identity, and street vendors and barbershops are witnesses and inheritors of this conversation.
The barbershops are another important stage for this transaction, where the hair is carefully trimmed and then waiting for the next leg of their journey.
Once the hair has been collected, these vendors and barbers delicately sort it, a process that is filled with skills and experience.
Each strand of hair is meticulously evaluated, and its quality, length, and color are key factors in pricing.
The quality of the hair determines its fate - whether it becomes a noble wig or becomes an ordinary hair extension product.
These hairs, which are sorted and evaluated, eventually re-enter the market in the form of wigs or extensions.
They are rewoven and designed to match the aesthetics and needs of society.
02
Hair is made up of keratin, a strong fibrin that makes up the bulk of hair and makes up the vast majority of the total hair mass.
This particular protein is arranged in a unique way and forms the main structure of the hair.
However, keratin is not all there is to hair.
Between these strong fibers, there are secrets of trace elements, such as iron, zinc, and copper, which are key to maintaining hair health and function, although only in trace amounts in hair.
Not only are these elements essential for hair growth, but they can also affect its texture and color, with copper ions, for example, playing an integral role in the hair coloring process.
This is not only about everyday curls and straight hair, but also about wigs and hair extensions that can drastically change the appearance.
Not only do these products meet everyday aesthetic needs, but they are also a way to regain self-confidence for those who have lost their hair due to a medical condition.
Imagine that on a special occasion, you will see a variety of hair styles in different colors.
These changes are more than just a manifestation of fashion, but also reveal an important property of the hair: its ability to withstand processing without losing its essential strength and elasticity.
This is crucial for the wig and hair extension industry, where hair products play an integral role.
So, hair is not just a part of the human body, but also a meeting point of science, art and industry.
Every thread of hair is evidence of nature's precision design, and our application of it demonstrates the infinite possibilities of human creativity.
03
There is an industry standard for the price of hair, which is based on length, 25 cm hair can be sold for 150 yuan a catty, and when the length increases to 30 cm, the price rises to 250 yuan a catty.
Length is an important measure of the value of hair, 40 cm long hair can be sold for 500 yuan a catty, and 50 cm long hair is as high as 1,000 yuan a catty.
As for those over 40 cm and with good hair quality, they are usually sold separately for a price ranging from 300 to 2,000 RMB each.
The wonder of this business lies not only in its uniqueness, but also in its profit margins, with prices often at least doubling from recycling to re-selling. However, this does not mean that the profits of this industry are easy to obtain.
Although it is relatively easy to obtain natural long hair in rural and mountainous areas, in the cities the situation is very different.
There are also opportunities in urban barber shops, especially those close to schools.
The fast-paced life of the city has led many long-haired students to choose to cut their hair short before the start of school, as long hair is really difficult to manage.
These young students, due to their age, tend to have the most natural and high-quality hair, so the price is relatively high.
However, looking for such hair in the city requires a partnership with a barbershop owner.
Most of these bosses are well versed in the market, which means that the profit margin for hair recycling in the city is usually around 70%, which is not as high as in rural areas, but it is still a considerable figure compared to other industries.
04
In today's society, wigs have become one of the indispensable commodities, not only because they satisfy people's pursuit of beauty, but also become a solution for specific needs.
China undertakes 90% of the world's wig production tasks, of which Xuchang, Qingdao and Yueyang are the main distribution centers of the wig industry.
The craftsmanship and production capacity of these regions make them the core of the global wig supply chain.
The demand for these wigs is all over the world, among which the European and American markets have a huge demand for high-end wigs, and the African market has a strong import demand for low-end products.
This demand is not only for fashion and aesthetics, but in many cases it is just.
The reason why the need exists is because wigs are not only for people who are looking for beauty.
Wigs have become a must-have for certain occupational groups, such as film actors, who frequently change their hairstyles for their roles.
What's more, those with hair loss due to conditions such as autoimmune alopecia, leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy, and other causes have a need for wigs that go far beyond the general aesthetic use.
However, wigs are not a one-time solution, and a good quality wig will last for about 4 to 5 months, after which it needs to be replaced.
This means that for consumers who rely heavily on wigs, wigs are almost a cyclical consumer product.
In addition, these wigs are also used in children's Barbie toys and some wig mannequins, and are also used in medical institutions and high-end barber shops for hair extensions and hair transplant services.
Here we have to mention another category of hair – those short broken hairs that are considered of little value.
Although they have a lower direct value in the wig market, their recycling value should not be underestimated.
The principle of winning by quantity makes these short broken hairs sell for three to five yuan a pound after being recycled at a price of about one dollar per catty.
These short hairs are mainly sent to chemical factories to extract amino acids, which are not only supplied to feed mills, but also to provide raw materials for certain industrial production processes.
It is this all-encompassing use of hair that has fueled the development of a huge economic industry.
From delicate wig-making to the refining of chemical raw materials, every strand of hair is endowed with new economic value.
This industry is not only about beauty and fashion, but also about medicine, industry and agriculture.
Behind this industry are the livelihoods of countless families and individuals who contribute raw materials to the industry by selling or donating their long hair, or collecting scraps of hair from barbershops.
Their hair is carefully processed and transformed, and eventually returns to the market in many forms, meeting different levels of demand.
05
In today's highly competitive market, small operators in the recycling industry are facing unprecedented challenges.
The low barrier to entry in this industry has attracted a large number of players, making the living space more and more narrow.
But innovation is particularly important in this area, and some forward-thinking companies have begun to make the switch to ensure they have an edge over the competition.
As competition intensifies, the harsh realities of the market are forcing recyclers to rethink their business models.
Some of the leading recycling companies are starting to adopt efficient technologies to improve recycling efficiency as a way to reduce operating costs and improve overall efficiency.
They realized that relying solely on traditional recycling methods could no longer meet the needs of the market and that something had to change.
These companies are not stopping at the level of improving recycling efficiency, they are also expanding their business reach by developing new recycling products, which not only increases revenue streams, but also provides consumers with more choice.
The implementation of this diversification strategy provides them with the possibility to stand out in the fierce market competition.
In addition to this, these forward-thinking recyclers are actively exploring new market opportunities to further strengthen their market position.
Not content with existing sales channels, they began to explore a wider market in order to find new growth points.
This includes expanding its business footprint by entering international markets or establishing partnerships with other companies upstream and downstream in the value chain.
The market is always changing, and only by constantly innovating can we remain competitive, which requires recyclers to not only pay attention to the current market dynamics, but also anticipate future trends and develop corresponding long-term plans.