How to Sell Your Hair for Shocking Amounts of Cash

Selling your hair can be a creative and rewarding way to earn extra cash, especially if you have long, untreated locks that meet buyer preferences.

While it’s not a guaranteed source of income for everyone, many people find success by understanding the market and preparing their hair properly. If you’re looking for a unique way to make money, selling your hair might be worth exploring.

What You Need to Know

Before selling your hair, it’s important to understand what buyers are looking for and how the process works. Hair selling is pretty straightforward, but preparing properly can help maximize your earnings.

What It Is: Hair buyers typically look for long, untreated hair. The ideal hair is natural, free of chemical treatments (like dye or bleach), and at least 10–12 inches long.

What It’s Used For: Hair is commonly used to make wigs, hair extensions, and other products for people with medical conditions like hair loss or for cosmetic purposes.

How It Works: You’ll start by finding a buyer or listing your hair on a platform like HairSellon or BuyAndSellHair. Once you’ve secured a buyer, you’ll follow their instructions for cutting, packaging, and shipping your hair.

Who Is Eligible: Anyone can sell their hair, but buyers are generally looking for specific qualities: length, natural color, and untreated texture.

How Much You Can Earn: The price depends on length, quality, and rarity, but most people earn between $100 and $1,000 or more for their hair.

How to Sell Your Hair for Money

Selling hair isn’t as complicated as it might seem. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

Find a Buyer

Connecting with the right buyer is the first step to selling your hair. You should not cut your hair until you have found a buyer! Some buyers will have specific requirements about how you cut it, package it and store it. If you cut it too soon, you could lose the sale.

Some of the most popular platforms include:

• HairSellon
• BuyAndSellHair
• Online Hair Affair
• Bloomsbury Wigs
• World of Wigs
• eBay
• Social Media or Classifieds like Facebook groups, Craigslist, and Instagram are alternative ways to find buyers.

You can also try contacting local wig makers or salons to see if they’re interested in purchasing hair directly.

Sometimes, a chance encounter can even lead to a sale. Reddit user 5bi5 wrote, “I sold mine to a woman I met at a party once. I got $100. I definitely undersold it, but I was only working 10 hours a week at the time so any money for low effort was good money.”

Negotiate with the Buyer

After connecting with a potential buyer, the next step is to finalize the details of the sale. It’s crucial to understand their specific requirements before cutting your hair. Here’s how to navigate the negotiation process:

• Understand Their Requirements: Many buyers have specific preferences for hair length, condition, and how it’s cut. For example, some may only accept hair that’s been cut in one clean ponytail or braid to maintain its integrity.
• Share Details About Your Hair: Be upfront about your hair’s length, color, and any treatments it has undergone. Transparency helps avoid misunderstandings later.
• Finalize Terms Before Cutting: Ensure the buyer agrees on key details like the price, cutting instructions, and shipping process. Don’t cut your hair until everything is confirmed.
• Negotiate the Best Price: If the buyer’s offer feels low, use research from platforms like HairSellon or similar listings to justify a higher price.
• Get a Deposit: It is a common practice to get paid half before you cut your hair. This helps protect you from scams.

As Reddit user M-Leigh wrote, “It took maybe a month to sell so please please please don’t cut your hair until you have a buyer and they have paid at least half. Cut hair dries out so the longer it sits the less valuable it becomes. Mine sold for $175 USD but it was only 12 inches.”

By securing a deal before cutting, you can avoid wasting valuable hair and ensure a smooth transaction.

Prepare Your Hair

Once you’ve secured a buyer, focus on getting your hair in its best condition to maximize its value:

• Avoid Heat and Chemicals: Stop using hot tools (like flat irons) and chemical treatments (like dye or bleach) to preserve the hair’s integrity.
• Use Gentle Products: Switch to sulfate-free shampoos and nourishing conditioners.
• Keep It Healthy: Brush carefully to avoid breakage, and trim split ends regularly to maintain overall quality.

This step ensures that the hair meets buyer expectations and fetches the agreed price.

Cut and Package Your Hair

Cutting your hair correctly is essential to preserving its value:

• Follow the Buyer’s Instructions: Many buyers request the hair to be cut in one clean ponytail or braid to maintain length and quality.
• Get Professional Help: Consider going to a salon to ensure the cut is done properly. Bring clear instructions from the buyer to avoid mistakes.
• Package Securely: Once cut, place the hair in a sealed plastic bag or another protective container to keep it clean and tangle-free during shipping.

This step helps ensure the transaction goes smoothly and your hair arrives in the condition the buyer expects.

Ship Your Hair

Once packaged, ship the hair to the buyer using their preferred method:

• Use a Reliable Carrier: Opt for a service that offers tracking, so you can confirm the hair has been delivered.
• Include Proof of Shipment: Some sellers include a printed receipt or confirmation of the transaction to keep things professional.
• Communicate with the Buyer: Notify the buyer when the hair has been shipped and provide tracking information.

Proper shipping helps protect your investment and establishes trust with the buyer.

Pros & Cons of Selling Your Hair

There is a lot of online debate about whether or not it’s worth the effort to figure out how to sell your hair. A lot of people report having success making money with little effort, while others put in a lot of effort for no return. Selling your hair is a very hit or miss activity, and a lot of your success will be influenced by factors outside of your control.

That being said, here are some of the benefits:

• Cash Boost: Depending on the length, quality, and condition of your hair, you can earn between $100 and $1,000 or more in a single sale.
• Low Effort: Once you’ve grown and maintained your hair, the actual selling process—finding a buyer, cutting, and shipping—is relatively straightforward.
• No Skills Required: Growing hair is a natural process. Unlike some side gigs, selling hair doesn’t require training, certifications, or ongoing commitments.

That being said, there are some definite drawbacks as well. Here are a few:

• Inconsistency: The market for hair can be unpredictable. Some sellers may receive multiple offers quickly, while others struggle to find a buyer. Your earnings can also vary widely based on trends, buyer preferences, and hair quality.
• One-Time Profit: Unlike plasma donation, selling hair isn’t a regularly recurring source of income. Once it’s cut, you’ll have to wait months or years to grow it back before selling again.
• Emotional Attachment: For some people, cutting their hair can feel like a big emotional step, especially if they’ve spent years growing it.
• Buyer Specificity: Many buyers have strict requirements for how the hair must be cut, packaged, and shipped. Failing to meet these specifications could reduce the sale price or void the deal altogether.
• Potential for Scams: Since hair sales often happen online, there’s a risk of encountering fraudulent buyers or shady platforms. To avoid scams, research platforms thoroughly, communicate clearly, and use secure payment methods.

Relief Recap

Selling your hair can be a rewarding experience if you’re patient, have the right hair type, and are prepared to follow buyer requirements. While it’s not for everyone, it’s a unique opportunity to turn a natural resource into extra cash.

If this option doesn’t work for you, don’t worry—there are plenty of other ways to earn. Check out this list of other things you can donate for ideas like donating plasma, breast milk, or even participating in clinical trials. For even more options, explore our Easy Ways to Get Extra Cash guide for practical and low-effort income opportunities.