Hair Care

The Real Story Behind Where Your Hair Extensions Come From

A salon owner travels around the globe to learn about the origins of hair extensions

by Hayley Mason | 1 COMMENT

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A Fruitless Search in Malaysia "Malaysian hair is highly advertised by other hair extensions companies, and many of my clients request this hair over others, so I was eager to source the hair directly from Malaysia for my own extensions line. (That's me in the photo on the right.) What I found in Malaysia was simply the plot behind one large marketing ploy.

"Upon arrival in Malaysia, it was difficult finding women who would speak to me. The majority of Malaysians are Muslim, so women would not speak to me without first asking permission from their husbands. In addition to that frustration, I couldn't seem to locate any villages or factories selling or cutting hair. I searched the city as well as the countryside with no luck.

"The hair extension industry isn't regulated, so vendors can label and market hair as they like. After speaking to several hairstylists in Malaysia, I learned that 'Malaysian hair extensions' don't truly exist. Hair labeled 'Malaysian' is typically purchased directly from China -- buyers beware."

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