Fergie is rocking* some unfortunate new hair extensions, but that’s not the worst of it. In the March issue of Allure magazine, you can learn about the business of hair extensions, and you will never feel the same about them.
The Venkateshwara Temple, at Tirumala in the south Indian State of Andhra Pradesh, is thought to attract more pilgrims than Jerusalem, Rome or Mecca.
Over 18 million devotees visit every year to pay their respects to an incarnation of Vishnu; the God that Hindus believe protects and sustains all that is good in society.
Every day, 12,000 pilgrims have their heads shaved by barbers in two great halls of the temple, which is India’s richest. The offering of hair is a sacred act, a gift of thanks to the Lord.
The hair of Indian women and girls is said to be the most beautiful in the world, and it is collected at the temple to be sold to middlemen, who then sell it again to companies that distribute it throughout the world. It is dyed 56 different colors and then resold to companies that sell it to your hairdresser.
The notion of someone sacrificing her hair in an act of devotion, only to have it end up attached to Fergie’s head, is repellent and grotesque, isn’t it?
The only way to offset this moral blunder is to donate time or money to Locks of Love each time you get hair extensions.
If only all moral blunders could be solved so easily!
The scoop on Locks of Love: http://wbjewelry.blogspot.com/2007/09/to-state-it-baldly-dont-cut-for-locks.html
extensions have always seemed super vain and lame to me (and a huge phoney baloney fakery tactic), and now i have a better reason to dislike them. but i like your suggestion, as it is perfect!!!!
Hair extensions have always left me a little queasy, although I’d gladly accept a wig if I lost my own hair.
And I remember reading that Locks of Love article, which basically said only the glossy, perfect hair of children was suitable.
The country of origin of the hair for extensions is noted when purchased from the supplier. You can choose from different countries, colour and texture plays into your choice. I used European hair (I think specifically it was Italian) on several clients many years ago as it matched in colour and texture to their natural hair. So there are ways to avoid something like this if you feel uncomfortable accepting someone’s spiritual devotion (I would.)
Wendyb -I’m aware of the requirements of Locks of Love. I know two people who have each donated hair several times. The hair cannot be colored or chemically altered…so it’s not a choice for many of us. My suggestion was to donate money or time.
drollgirl – Even Kate Moss wears extensions! It’s more and more popular. I’m now suspicious of every thick head of hair…
Iheartfashion – Yeah, they are very specific about what they can use.
Suzanne -Thanks for the info!
I watched some kind of documentary on that!! It’s just wrong that the offerings end up on celebs. These women aren’t paid anything either, or sometimes just mere pennies for their hair.
My sister had to pay $300 for a wig made of human hair when she lost all her hair due to chemo. She bought it from a store that catered specifically to women undergoing chemo. Yes, there were less expensive wigs (and more expensive ones) . . . and the less expensive ones looked liked crap! When you feel like crap you don’t want to look like crap. Anyway, there must be a greed gene that lurks somewhere in humanity’s DNA and it’s trying to beat down the altruistic gene that want’s humanity to cut off it’s hair to help someone who needs a boost in life when they have so many other worries to contend with.
Yes, I noted your suggestion — the problem is that most people are completely unaware of the requirements, chop off their hair without even consulting the website and go around bragging how they helped cancer kids. I think Locks of Love is a good cause but people should be educated about how it works and as we know, most people are not educated and won’t even read what’s in front of them. I try to place one more thing in front of them in the off chance that osmosis will happen.
Bex – I wanted to see that documentary!
Deni – You are the best sister she could have. Blessings upon you both.
WendyB- Sorry to sound so uppity! You’re absolutely right to issue an advisory.
Thank You !…