Every Strand Has a Story

In the extensions industry, “ethically sourced” has become a bit of a buzzword. It looks good on a website or packaging - but when it comes to hair extensions, the meaning isn’t always clear.

There’s no universal certification system for ethically sourced hair. That makes it hard to tell who’s genuinely committed to good practice, and who’s just using the language to increase sales.

For stylists (and for anyone wearing extensions) digging into what sits behind the label matters. Knowing the story behind your hair builds trust and confidence in what you’re putting on your head every day.

The Dark Side of Extensions

Not all hair is collected in a way that’s fair or transparent.

In some cases, donors may not have given full consent, or their hair is shaved to the scalp in the collection process. Others may not be compensated fairly, and some factories buy from bulk resellers with no traceability of origin.

In other instances, hair has even been swept from temple floors, or taken in ways that exploit vulnerable people.

And it’s not just about how hair is collected. What happens once it reaches the factories matters too. Many factories have poor working conditions, don’t compensate staff fairly, and rely on harsh chemicals in processing, sometimes even dumping waste directly into drains. We have unfortunately witnessed all of these first hand.

This is the hidden cost behind hair that seems “too cheap to be true.” For wearers, that can mean extensions that don’t last, don’t feel good, or come with a story you’d rather not be part of.

What Ethical Sourcing Can Look Like

There’s no global standard, so each brand needs to define what ethical sourcing means to them (and be open about it). This can include:

• Donor consent – hair given willingly.
• Fair compensation – donors and workers are paid appropriately.
• Traceability – the ability to follow hair back to its origin, not just bulk markets.
• Safe processing – factories providing fair conditions and sustainable practices.
• Long-term supplier relationships – building trust by working with the same partners over many years.

For extension wearers, these standards don’t just protect donors and workers, they also mean higher-quality hair, safer processing, and longer-lasting results.

What Stylists Can Ask

Stylists play a huge role in this conversation. By asking suppliers the right questions, you set the standard for your clients, and for the industry. Some good places to start:

• How long have you worked with your manufacturer?
• Is the hair cuticle-intact and processed under fair conditions?
• What steps do you take to ensure donors are treated fairly?
• Can you tell me how your hair is collected and processed?
  

Knowing the answer to these questions helps you reassure clients who care about where their hair comes from, and gives wearers the peace of mind that their extensions were sourced with care.

Loxys Ethical Standards

We’ve always believed that every strand matters, not just for the client wearing the hair, but for the people who donate it and those who process it along the way. That’s why our ethical standards go beyond words on a page:

• We work with a trusted, long-term supplier who shares our values, and we’ve personally visited the factory to inspect the working conditions first-hand.
• All hair is cuticle-intact, double drawn, and collected with donor consent.
• Donors are over the age of 19 and paid fairly for their hair, which is cut off at bob length, or kept long but thinned out to reduce the bulk. This means the donor keeps their long hair but it’s easier for them to care for.
• We only accept hair that has been fairly sourced and processed in safe working conditions.

‘Ethically sourced’ has never been a buzzword for us. It’s a non‑negotiable.

Every Strand Matters

Ethical sourcing in extensions isn’t straightforward. It’s not perfect. And it certainly isn’t the same from one brand to the next. But it does matter. For stylists, the best way forward is to ask questions, seek transparency, and choose suppliers who share your values.

Every strand matters - right back to the people who donated it.