As the Iranian regime continues to fail in addressing poverty and improving the economic situation of its people, reports from Iran indicate that due to worsening living conditions and low incomes, the market for buying and selling natural women’s hair has grown in Tehran.
The state-run Mehr News Agency reported on Monday, April 7, that due to economic hardship and low-income levels among Iranians, the market for buying and selling women’s natural hair in Tehran is thriving.
This outlet noted that buyers are encouraging women to sell their hair both on city sidewalks and through online platforms.
Mehr quoted one hair buyer as saying: “The price of hair varies depending on its length, thickness, and color—from 200 million rials (approximately $190 USD) for short hair to 600 million rials (approximately $570 USD) for long, healthy hair per kilogram.”
The issue of selling hair to cover living expenses in Iran has made headlines multiple times in recent years.
Over 80% of Iranian Households Below the Global Poverty Line
In March, the Iranian watchdog site Didban Iran reported on the booming market for natural hair, stating: “On social media and apps like Sheypoor and Divar, ads for buying and selling hair have listed prices such as 300 million rials (approximately $285 USD) for 60 centimeters of hair.”
(Sheypoor and Divar are popular Iranian online marketplaces.)
In November 2021, Khorasan newspaper also covered the buying and selling of women’s hair due to poverty, writing that girls as young as 10 and women up to age 50 have turned to selling their hair to cover expenses such as buying mobile phones or paying medical bills.
Female Breadwinners and Students Are the Main Hair Sellers
Mehr, citing a hair buyer, stated: “Female heads of households and students are the main hair sellers, and it seems the lack of stable jobs for low-income women drives them toward this work.”
One seller told Mehr about her motivation for selling her hair: “I was unemployed and had no choice but to sell my hair to cover my son’s medical expenses. But the money wasn’t even enough for a month.”
According to Mehr, some buyers, despite promising “fast cash payments,” pay much less than originally agreed after cutting the hair, citing excuses about its quality.
Narges, a 28-year-old hair seller, told Mehr:” I sold my 30-centimeter-long hair to pay my rent. They promised 60 million rials (approximately $57 USD), but after cutting it, they only paid 30 million rials (approximately $28 USD). When I protested, they said the hair wasn’t good quality.”
In recent months, as the Iranian regime continues to struggle in improving the economic conditions and tackling poverty, numerous reports have been published highlighting the deepening economic crisis and sluggish business activity.
