Composting Human Hair

For nearly a year, I lived in an ecovillage-- an off-grid, solar-powered, self-sufficient community designed to enable people to live as sustainably as possible. In this setting, I learned green livingthrough total immersion, and this included learning to compost absolutely everything-- including human feces, cat litter, and human hair. "Ick" factor aside, this radical shift toward sustainable living gave me a new and transformative view of waste.

Surprisingly, human hair makes an excellent compost material, and it adds significant structural integrity to the surrounding soil. Because it takes a long time to decompose-- roughly 1-2 years, it is a very slow-release fertilizer, and will gradually restore nitrates to your garden soil. People who are interested in using human hair as a natural fertilizer have two basic choices: adding it directly to their topsoil or allowing it to decompose within a compost bin prior to use. Both choices are safe and effective ways to dispose of human hair in an earth-friendly and responsible manner.

Some organic gardeners have hang-ups about using any human by-product in soil, but you can be rest assured that human hair is a safe and pathogen-free compost material. Since hair does not contain living, aerobic tissue, it can not carry an active infection or pathogen, so there is no risk of contaminating food crops, even if the hair is used in a "raw" rather than fully composted state.

Collecting hair for compost is very simple, and requires no special care or consideration. Some people collect the trimmings each time they shave their faces or legs. Over time, these sparse trimmings add up a significant amount of healthy topsoil material or compost matter. Others collect their lost hair from hairbrushes and drains, and-- of course-- people can also collect the large amounts of hair removed by a hair-cut or trim. This is especially easy if you get your hair cut at home, but be prepared for strange looks when you explain to your stylist that you want to take home your trimmings for use in the garden.

Using human hair in its "raw", natural state provides some benefits compared to using fully composted hair. Prior to being composted, hair has an amazing capacity for restoring structural support in soil that is somewhat deficient. People with very high-clay or high-sand soil can re-create a loamy, well-drained soil texture that can support strong root systems. For those with deficient or "tired" topsoil, this is particularly useful. Over the course of a several months to a few years, the hair will gradually release small amounts of nitrate into the surrounding soil, providing an added nutrient benefit. To use hair directly in the garden simply cut it into small pieces and mix it evenly with compost, mulch, or topsoil.

All materials require air and water to properly decompose, but human hair tends to repel both. This is why it may take up to a few years for hair to naturally decompose. However, the process can be accelerated by adding hair to a compost system, where it can be exposed to aeration and moisture routinely. The chemical balance of a well-established compost bin can aid in speeding the process of decomposing human hair. Hair can be added to a compost system as simply as any food product, but it is best to cut it into small pieces and mix it evenly with other compost materials-- this speeds the process and makes for even decomposition.

For those looking for an earth-friendly, responsible way to dispose of human hair, it is a relief to know that any home garden or compost system can benefit from the its addition to soil. Whether you choose to use hair directly in its raw state, or would prefer to add it to an established compost system, hair-composting is a safe, responsible, and earth-friendly way to manage your trash after a haircut, shower, or shave.