The Ethics of Hair Extensions Globalization

The hair extension industry is astonishingly lucrative, and in many ways epitomizes the global market economy. As innocent as hair extensions seem, though, the industry is besieged by several ethical conundrums that illuminate the need for corporate social responsibility. Hair also exemplifies the tenets of free market capitalism. For example, the global hair extension business depends on division of labor, on private enterprise, and on laissez faire economics policies—such as neoliberalism (Vitez, n.d.). Capitalist enterprise also means that individual business owners compete with each other, while neoliberalism provides the most unregulated, unhindered free market possible allowing supply and demand to determine all aspects of cost structuring. While laborers are frequently exploited in the capitalist free market and especially in a neoliberal globalized marketplace, the hair extension industry presents some peculiarities that ironically have the potential to benefit the underclass worldwide.

For what is likely the first time in human history, human hair is being traded on the global marketplace. As Carey & Cookney (2016) point out, suppliers are now located in India, Russia, Brazil, Myanmar, and China, while Lawton (2016) focuses on Vietnam as a supplier of hair. While Carey & Cookney (2016) touch upon the dark side of the hair extension industry by referring to “girls and women so poor and desperate that they will sell their hair,” Lawton (2016) implies that in Vietnam, the labor ethics are more neutral. “Vietnam's hair industry wasn't as shady as I expected,” (Lawton, 2016). However, Lawton (2016) also admits that “forced head-shaving and kidnapping” is a problem in other parts of the world. It would seem that forced head-shaving and kidnapping would be bad for the hair extension business in the long run, for several utilitarian reasons related to basic capitalist enterprise. One reason is that forced head-shaving and kidnapping would reflect poorly on the company, would be bad for public relations and reputation, and would diminish consumer support for that firm. Another reason is that the hair extension industry needs reliable suppliers, not a few temporary kidnapped individuals. From a deontological perspective of course, kidnapping and forced cutting are ethically wrong. As the hair extension industry matures, companies that ethically source their hair will rise to the top and become industry leaders.
Regardless of where the hair comes from in the world, and the labor conditions, the extension industry is clearly and quintessentially capitalist. Capitalism depends on profitability, and profitability depends on keeping costs lower than the selling price. According to Opiah (2014), the hair extension industry is worth around half a billion--$500 million. Carey & Cookney (2016) note that the price of hair as a commodity or raw material has risen 70% in just five years. Ethical decision-making in the hair extension industry now depends more fully on labor rights and corporate social responsibility.
It is possible for a company to cater both to its best interests as a capitalist, profit-driven enterprise, and care for consumer concerns as well as social justice. Consumers may be becoming increasingly conscious about their purchases, and are willing to pay more for a product that has been ethically sourced. However, the hair extension industry does present some ethical problems for consumers that may need to be resolved while still maintaining the viability of the product. Hair extensions cost a lot of money, because the consumer is willing to pay a premium for healthy and ethical hair extensions. The market will also respond to consumer demands for different types of hair. For example, the African-American/black market around the world needs different hair extensions than Caucasian consumers. There will always be a cohort of consumer that cannot afford premium prices and will resort to sourcing their hair extensions online or from sources that are unverifiable and likely to be unethical.



References

Carey, T. & Cookney, F. (2016). The ugly truth behind multi-million pound hair extensions industry. Mirror. Retrieved online: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/ugly-truth-behind-multi-million-7513507
Lawton, G. (2016). Vietnam’s hair extension industry, untangled. Elite Daily. Retrieved online: https://www.elitedaily.com/women/hair-extension-industry-vietnam/1664764
Opiah, A. (2014). The changing business of black hair. HuffPo. Retrieved online: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/antonia-opiah/the-changing-business-of-_b_4650819.html
Vitez, O. (n.d.). What does capitalism mean in business? The Chronicle. Retrieved online: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/capitalism-mean-business-3895.html


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