Now I have dreamed of long Cinderella like locks for a long time, but I've never really considered the ethical implications. I realize that's naive, but I can justify it by the fact I've never had extensions (and I'm poor). The same can't be said for pop star Jamelia who has been having her tresses lengthened for a seriously long time. When she recently discovered quite how the hair is obtained she had a change of heart.
'During my time in Chennai, India, I watch horrified. This is a religious sacrifice: the shaving represents a last-ditch plea to a higher power to save their home from being repossessed. But to me, it appears to be the ultimate in exploitation.'
She saw hair taken off young children and casually tossed into a pile to be sorted and sold for thousands of pounds, whilst the shorn women receive pennies for their locks. In India hair s connected intrinsically to worth and value, and by shearing their hair women are sacrificing something intangible and powerful.
Seeing the pain and torment of the women made Jamelia decide against ever getting extensions again, and instead she has learnt to be content with her natural hair. The fact that she learnt hat some extension hair is taken form CORPSES only hardened her resolve.
Good on her! Other celebs could take a leaf out of her book methinks (yes Girls Aloud, I'm talking about you). When beauty hurts people it stops being so attractive.
