Sell hair to make 'anjisu'--what's that?

[smalldog]

While having my hair cut today the hairdresser was talking about how he can make money by selling hair cuttings. Not to make wigs, but to make 'anjisu'. I presume jisu=激素=hormone, but what kind of hormone? An is first tone, I think.

Just curious about where my hair will end up! The going rate is only 0.3-0.4 yuan/jin, by the way.

[florazheng]

胺基酸？　ＡＮ　ＪＩ　ＳＵＡＮ

[skylee]

Yes it looks like it is 氨基酸 (I suppose it is 氨 rather than 胺). Some relevant info -> Uses of Cut Hair

Interesting topic.

[florazheng]

氨基酸 (I suppose it is 氨 rather than 胺). ..

Yes, you are right. Thank you for correction.

[smalldog]

Yes it looks like it is 氨基酸

Amino acids? Sounds about right. Still not sure what that'd be used for though. It sounded like something medicinal, and I believe 补偿 (supplement) was mentioned.

[skylee]

Still not sure what that'd be used for though.

probably as fertiliser, no?

[GV.979]

I have a friend who once asked the barber who cut his hair what they did with all the hair clippings. The barber told him that he saves it all and sells it to a person (a middle man??) that uses it to make MSG.

Hair contains amino acids and MSG is a kind of protein produced in the lab.

[ocpaul20]

MSG = Monosodiumglutamate(?) which is the sacks of white powder that the chinese always add to their food "to make it tasty". It is a flavour enhancer and is blamed for all kinds of things in the west.Restaurants here use sacks of the stuff.

I doubt whether your hair is used for making it, but I suppose anything is possible.

[imron]

Read this. It's absolutely disgusting - especially the part about where they get the hair from and the sort of stuff they need to remove from the hair before it can be used.