Composting Hair: The Benefits and How to Do It

When we think of composting, the usual suspects come to mind: food scraps, yard waste, and even paper products. But have you ever considered composting hair? That’s right, your luscious locks can actually be beneficial for your garden and the environment. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of composting hair and how you can do it yourself.

The Benefits of Composting Hair

Hair is made up of keratin, a protein that is high in nitrogen. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth and development, making hair a great addition to your compost pile. By adding hair to your compost, you’re providing plants with the necessary nutrients to thrive.

Adding hair to your compost provides plants with essential nutrients.

But it’s not just about the nutrients. Composting hair also helps reduce waste. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, around 21,000 tons of human hair are thrown away in the United States each year. By composting hair, you’re diverting it from the landfill and reducing your carbon footprint.

How to Compost Hair

Composting hair is a pretty straightforward process. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Collect Your Hair

The first step is to collect your hair. This can be hair that you’ve trimmed off yourself or hair that you’ve collected from a hair salon. Make sure the hair is clean and free of any hair products.

Collect your hair and make sure it's clean and free of any products.

Step 2: Add Hair to Your Compost Pile

Next, add the hair to your compost pile. Make sure to mix it in well so that it doesn’t clump together. If you’re worried about animals getting into your compost pile, you can bury the hair deep within the pile.

Add your hair to your compost pile and mix it in well.

Step 3: Wait for the Hair to Decompose

It will take some time for the hair to decompose, but eventually, it will break down and become part of the compost. You can speed up the process by turning your compost pile regularly.

Regularly turn your compost pile to speed up the decomposition process.

Other Ways to Use Hair in the Garden

If you don’t have a compost pile, there are other ways to use hair in the garden:

Use Hair as a Natural Pest Deterrent

Hair can be used as a natural pest deterrent. Simply sprinkle hair around your garden beds to keep critters like rabbits and deer away. The scent of human hair is often enough to scare them off.

Use hair as a natural pest deterrent by sprinkling it around your garden beds.

Make Hair Fertilizer Tea

Another way to use hair in the garden is to make hair fertilizer tea. To do this, place a handful of hair in a bucket of water and let it sit for a few days. The water will become infused with nitrogen from the hair, creating a nutrient-rich fertilizer for your plants.

Make hair fertilizer tea by soaking hair in water for a few days.

Composting hair is an easy and effective way to provide your plants with essential nutrients while reducing waste. Whether you add hair to your compost pile or use it as a natural pest deterrent or fertilizer, there are many benefits to using hair in the garden. So, the next time you go to the salon for a haircut, consider collecting your hair and giving it a second life in your garden.

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