CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Review of Related Literature

Human Hair
Hair is simple in structure but, has significant functions in social functioning. A

tough protein called keratin made up a human hair. Also, hair is defined as a protein

filament that grows through the epidermis from follicles deep within the dermis. A hair

follicle anchors each hair into the skin. The hair bulb forms the base of the hair follicle. In

the hair bulb, living cells divide and grow to build the hair shaft. Blood vessels nourish the

cells in the hair bulb and deliver hormones that modify hair growth and structure at

different times of life. Hair can grow on most areas of the human body, except on the

palms of the hands and the soles of the feet (among other areas), but hair is most

noticeable in most people in a small number of areas, which are also the ones that are

most commonly trimmed, plucked, or shaved. These include the face, nose, ears, head,

eyebrows, eyelashes, legs and armpits, as well as the pubic region.

Chemical Composition of Human Hair

The main chemical elements present in hair are composed of carbon (45%),

oxygen (28%), nitrogen (15%), hydrogen (6.7%) and sulfur (5.3%).

Moreover, various trace elements are present (these can be found by performing a trace

mineral analysis) like Calcium, Magnesium, Strontium, Boron, Aluminum, Silicon,

Sodium, Potassium, Zinc, Copper, etc. It is important to remember that the percentages

of trace elements present in hair are subjective and vary in each individual. Blood
circulation can bring these trace elements to the base of hair follicle, then contribute in

building the hair shaft. Hair also contains 12-15% of water. In addition, hair is composed

of melanin, C18H10N2O4 , and keratin, C47H77N13O15 , which is made up of amino

acids. The most important amino acid is cysteine, C3H7NO2S.

Classification of Human Hair

A. Natural Hair

Natural hair is hair that has not received damaging chemical straighteners such as

relaxers or texturizers. In simple term being natural means, you do not have any

chemicals on or in your hair to alter its natural curl pattern. Natural hair comes in all

shapes, sizes, textures, and colors.

Natural human hair is one of the highest nitrogen-containing (~16%) organic

material in nature because it is predominantly made up of (nitrogen-containing) proteins.

For comparison, cattle dung contains only ~0.2-0.3% nitrogen.

Synthesis of Related Literature and Studies

The above collection of both local and foreign literature and studies provides

information to the proponents that the researchers’ purposed study has similarities with

other system which is widely used. As stated, human hair will be utilized as an alternative

liquid fertilizer to lessen the vast system of hair waste, to add income in the Salon or

Barber Shop industry, and to promote cost-efficient liquid fertilizer on farmers.

The collection of literature and studies above are related in the area of importance

in keeping all the files and records. It will give assurance that these are secured and

accessible for the advancement of Agriculture. It also guarantees that the

 Human hair is one of the highest nitrogen-containing (~16%) organic material in
nature because it is predominantly made up of (nitrogen-containing) proteins. For
comparison, cattle dung contains only ~0.2-0.3% nitrogen. In addition, human hair also
contains sulfur, carbon, and 20 other elements essential for plants. In the atmosphere, hair
decomposes very slowly, but moisture and keratinolytic fungi present in soil, animal
manure, and sewage sludge can degrade hair within a few months. In traditional Chinese
agriculture, human hair was mixed with cattle dung to prepare compost that was applied to
the fields in the winter season. In some communities in India, hair has been used directly
as fertilizer for many fruit and vegetable crops and in making organic manures. Recent
experiments on horticulture plants show that direct application of human hair to soil
provides the necessary plant nutrients for over two to three cropping seasons. A company
named SmartGrow has popularized the fertilizer use of human hair in the USA by selling
it in the form of hair mats for potted plants. Small entrepreneurs in the USA are also
promoting hair as fertilizer by packaging it in various user-friendly forms such as in tea
bags. By mixing human hair with cattle dung and feeding worms on the mixture, it is also
possible to make good quality vermicompost within a period of about 2 months.
Noncomposted hair, however, has advantages than composted hair because composting
can lead to some loss of nitrogen.
While the biological decomposition pathways take a few months, human hair can also be
decomposed within a few hours by chemically hydrolyzing it at high temperatures in acid
or base solutions. The hydrolyzed solution, which mainly consists of amino acids with
some fatty acids and nucleotides, can be used as a liquid fertilizer after neutralization.
Experiments using this hydrolyzate as foliar spray show enhancement of the chlorophyll
content as well as biomass in spinach and wheat plants. Application of the solution to soil
also shows improvements in the color and size of Amaranthus dubius and hot pepper
plants. Experiments on the hot pepper plants also show increased diversity of soil-intrinsic
bacteria, which significantly reduces the spread of a wilt disease in these plants caused by
the bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum. Long term impacts of this use, however, need to
be assessed.
Any kind of hair without toxic contamination can be used for fertilizers. Finely
shredded hair, however, is better for faster decomposition.