How can I reuse or recycle … hair clippings?

A clump of hair clippingsEvery couple of weeks, John shaves his head, resulting in hair clippings and a clump of fuzz in the bathroom sink. Given it makes me want to gip* every time I see it (I start imagining the stray little hairs in my throat and ick), John just usually scoops it up quickly and flings it in the bin.

I believe it can be composted – right? – but are there any better uses for the unwanted spawn of his follicles?

* according to Urban Dictionary, this is a Yorkshire term for ‘wretch’. Despite my upbringing on the other side of the Pennines, I use this word regularly without thinking of it as being a Yorkshire-ism. I am clearly perfectly assimilated in the culture now: bring on my flat cap and whippet on a piece of string.

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32 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle … hair clippings?”


  1. john says:

    hair clippings, human or otherwise, can be used to deter snails from your prize winning vegetables.

    sprinkle a barrier of hair around your plot and they’ve prefer not to cross it.

    the hair breaks down and provides nutrients for the soil too.

    not so good in windy weather though.

  2. Laura says:

    If you have birds nesting in your garden, leave the hair for them to use as a building material. Same goes for pet hair.

  3. Rosie says:

    Also I stick the fluff fom my condenser dryer on the bushes for the birds to us as nest building materials
    I think the snails and slugs dont like nything prickly on their tender undercarriages.. hence theor reluctane to cross the barrier as suggested.
    they hate essential oil of pepeermint also.

    Rosie

  4. Johnny says:

    hello! My name is Johnny R. I work for barber shop snd we want recycle the hairs we cut everyday

  5. Amanda Kerik says:

    Use hair for stuffing in pincushions – the natural oil will stop the metal needles from rusting.

  6. Melanie says:

    Can you use the hair clippings for nets to clean oil spills? Thought I read that somewhere.

    • Bazzyb says:

      There’s a charity organisation in the usa that recycles hair into hair mats and they use this for oil spillages-doesnt appear to be anywhere in the uk that does this!

  7. Anne says:

    A company in the US uses hair clippings to make mats that absorb oil: good for oil spills and also for motor oil drips!

    http://www.matteroftrust.org/apages2007/natprogss.html

  8. Katz says:

    I read that you can put the hair and nail clippings in your compost bin, apparently – they are perfectly compostable.
    Unpleasant subject though…

  9. Penny says:

    In theory hair can go in a wormery and will eventually get composted.

  10. Anonymous says:

    I THINK DAT IS NASTY,DON’T U???????????????????

  11. Lisa says:

    I have a busy pet grooming salon and often wonder if there is any use for the tons of hair we have by the end of the day, literally a large green garbage bag or more full!!

  12. Alice says:

    Yes, compost it! Apparently raspberries particularly like the keratin.

    I also cut up my old wool gloves when they wear out and bury them near the raspberries.

  13. jak says:

    I need a suggestion. how to do bisness with hair mat?

  14. Bobbie says:

    This is not a suggestion, but reading this post made me remember something. When I was a child my sitter was an old, old woman who told me not to put my hair that had been cut off outside as the hummingbirds would build a nest from them and it would give me headaches! Since that time I have tested her theory many times and have not gotten one single headache from it. he he.

  15. anonymous says:

    hi, i’ve heard that you can compost the hair. my neighbour does it and she has a fantastic garden…..

  16. Louisa, you have to look at this about hair and the oil slick and old tights, I love it! http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20100509/tod-hair-fur-nylons-join-fight-to-hold-b-f62056d.html

    • louisa says:

      Hahah, that’s awesome. I’ve heard of hair being used to soak up oil spills before but it’s great how they’re recycling all along the line – and I love the name “the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence”, hehe. :)

  17. james Harding says:

    i have a barber who throws his hair away . for the region its important for sience and to donate for the green movment .where can i help him donate the hair?

  18. Sally Small says:

    I would delighted to give beautiful blonde locks to anyone willing, male or female. For those dont wash there hair properly i reccomend Head and Shoulders, it is very effective. I mean who dosent want my hair, it tastes like strawberries-ask my boyfriend, he should know!!!!!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Hey Sally, I’ll be up for taking your hair, my partner makes makes dolls and is always on the lookout for hair to make the wigs.

      km.4@live.co.uk

      • Sally Small says:

        Thanks for the comment, but my hair is now my own, for all of the strawberry tasting my boyfriend did, he said he liked it immensly, and he said he would dump me if i gave it up sorry. But i will reccomend my friend Katsui for he is a very good hair giver, and you will be pleased to know he dosent have dandruff!
        All the best,
        Sally :)

  19. Anonymous says:

    Locks of Love for long hair, 10 inches or more in one bundle. They make wigs for cancer patients. I like the composting a and oil spill ideas. Also hair will scare rabbits away from your prized plants.

  20. Sally Small says:

    Thanks for the comment, but my hair is now my own, for all of the strawberry tasting my boyfriend did, he said he liked it immensly, and he said he would dump me if i gave it up sorry. But i will reccomend my friend Katsui for he is a very good hair giver, and you will be pleased to know he dosent have dandruff!
    All the best,
    Sally :)

  21. Anonymous says:

    ever hear of hair pie

  22. Emily SITHOLE says:

    Can you pleas e find information for me about hair recycling



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