In what unexpected ways could human hairs be recycled or upcycled?

Question

Currently, hairdressers around the world throw away tonnes of human hairs after they have given someone a new hairstyle. I know people sometimes donate their hair, which can be used to create wigs.

I wonder whether there are other new or unexpected ways hairs could be recycled or upcycled to create new products. Perhaps it can be dissolved and useful substances or molecules can be gathered. If so, could you point me towards some (research) articles or books that show how the hairs are used, and how they are processed?

Possible duplicate of How can we dispose or recycle hair clippings from barber shops? although that question is not specifically about upcycling and the science behind it. — THelper, Nov 20 '19 at 14:43
In the past it was common to fill matresses/pillows with animal (horse) hair. I wonder if that would work with human hair (after proper cleaning). Another (not so nice) area of investigation might be looking at what Nazi Germany did with the hair from Holocaust victims. — , Nov 21 '19 at 08:19

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 21 '19 at 08:17

In e.g. China, L-cysteine is produced from human hair (among other things) and used as a dough conditioner (bread 'improver')

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKoi3P84OQU

Or Google for l-cystine bread improver human hair

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 20 '19 at 15:57

1

I have found it good to deter rabbits from eating shrubbery/gardens, sprinkled on the ground. You don't need much as it lasts a long time.

answered Nov 20 '19 at 15:57

blacksmith37

550
2
6

In what unexpected ways could human hairs be recycled or upcycled?

2 Answers2