Composting hair may seem unorthodox, but it can provide some great benefits for your compost pile and garden soil. Hair is rich in nitrogen, an essential nutrient for healthy plant growth. By composting hair, you can create a nutrient-dense fertilizer that helps your plants thrive.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about composting hair, from the science behind it to practical tips for adding hair to your compost. You’ll learn what types of hair can be composted, how to prepare hair for composting, and the best ways to use hair compost in your garden. Let’s get started!
An Overview of Composting Hair
Composting is the process of allowing organic materials like food and yard waste to slowly break down into a nutrient-rich fertilizer called humus. This decomposition happens thanks to the work of microorganisms, insects, worms, and other decomposers.
Hair is an ideal addition to compost for several reasons:
- It’s high in nitrogen – Hair contains 15-18% nitrogen, a key nutrient plants need for healthy growth and development. Nitrogen helps plants produce chlorophyll for photosynthesis and create proteins and enzymes.
- It breaks down slowly – The keratin protein in hair makes it slower to decompose compared to other compost inputs. This provides a steady, long-lasting source of nitrogen over time.
- It’s free and widely available – Hair is easy to access either from regular grooming and haircuts or by collecting pet hair during shedding season. Reusing hair keeps it out of landfills.
The microbes and fungi that drive the composting process consume keratin as an energy source. Over time, they break the hair down into small particles that enrich the finished compost.
Composting hair is eco-friendly, sustainable, and results in a high-quality soil amendment. Keep reading to learn the specifics of how to compost hair successfully.
Can You Compost All Types of Hair?
Not all hair can be added to compost piles. Certain types of hair may contain chemicals, dyes, or other contaminants that you wouldn’t want entering your garden soil. Here are some guidelines on what kinds of hair are compostable:
- Human hair – Untreated, uncolored human hair is perfectly safe for composting. Avoid adding chemically treated hair from perms, hair dye, bleaching, etc. Also do not use hair that could be carrying infectious diseases like lice.
- Pet hair – Fur from dogs, cats, rabbits, and other pets can be composted. Make sure the fur is pest-free. Do not use fur from pets treated with flea/tick medication.
- Livestock hair – Hair from livestock like cows, horses, goats, and sheep makes great compost. Ensure the hair is not contaminated with pesticides if the animals were dipped.
- Salon hair clippings – Leftover hair from barbershops and salons is compostable as long as it hasn’t been chemically treated. Salon hair provides a free source of high-nitrogen material.
Stick to hair in its natural, untreated form for composting. Avoid hair that may contain toxic residuals from dyes, bleach, perms, or topical medications.
Preparing Hair for Composting
Before adding hair to your compost pile, take a few steps to prepare it:
- Clean and disinfect – Give human or pet hair a rinse to remove any styling products, dirt, or dust. Then soak it in mild bleach solution or vinegar to disinfect.
- Cut it up – Use scissors to cut long hair into 1-2 inch pieces. This allows it to break down more easily.
- Mix with other inputs – Layer hair thinly between other nitrogen-rich ingredients like grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, or coffee grounds.
- Don’t let it mat – Sprinkle hair loosely throughout the compost. Don’t let it clump together into thick mats, which resist decomposition.
With a little prep, hair becomes an excellent addition that blends seamlessly into the composting process. Prepare 2-3 cups at a time and mix it in each time you add new materials.
How Does Hair Help Compost?
Composting hair provides both macro- and micronutrients that are vital for soil health and plant growth. Here’s an overview of the key benefits hair offers:
1. Provides a Slow-Release Nitrogen Source
The abundant nitrogen in hair makes it ideal for balancing out carbon-rich materials like leaves, straw, or paper. The keratin protein causes the hair to break down slowly over several months. This results in a steady supply of nitrogen being released, instead of all at once like green materials.
2. Improves Soil Structure and Workability
As hair decomposes, the small fiber particles help bind soil particles together. This creates a loose, crumbly soil texture that allows air and water movement. The added organic matter also lightens heavy clay soils and increases drainage.
3. Supplies Micronutrients and Minerals
In addition to nitrogen, human hair contains small amounts of sulfur, zinc, magnesium, iron, calcium and other beneficial micronutrients. Composting recycles these minerals back into plant-available forms.
4. Attracts Decomposers to Break Down Material
The keratin-rich hair is attractive to fungi, actinobacteria, and invertebrates like isopods, millipedes, and springtails. These decomposers help speed up the overall composting process.
5. Creates a Dark, Crumbly Compost
As a finishing touch, hair contributes to the dark color and fine texture characteristic of high-quality compost. The organic matter content also helps compost retain moisture.
Adding a bit of hair to the compost pile provides nourishment for microbes, while also creating a sustainably sourced, premium growing medium for your garden.
How Much Hair Can You Add to Compost?
A little bit of hair goes a long way in compost. Limit hair to 2-3 cups per cubic yard of compost. Excess volumes can clump together and resist breaking down.
Sprinkle hair lightly and evenly across new compost materials as you build the pile. Mixing it in with other nitrogen sources helps prevent matting. Here are some guidelines for how much to add:
- For a small in-vessel or indoor composter (1-2 cubic feet capacity), add 1/4 cup of hair at a time.
- For a standard 3x3x3 feet backyard bin, use 1/2-1 cup per layer as you build the pile.
- For larger commercial-scale composting with 5+ cubic yard piles, mix in 2-3 cups per layer.
Monitor the internal temperature and oxygen levels. Too much hair can lead to anaerobic conditions, slowing the compost. Adjust amounts based on how quickly each batch breaks down.
Using Hair Compost in Your Garden
Once the composted hair has fully broken down, it produces a dark, crumbly, nutrient-dense product that can enrich soil and fertilize plants. Here are some of the best uses for hair compost:
Mix Into Garden Beds
Blend composted hair into existing garden beds when planting flowers, herbs, vegetables, shrubs, or trees. The hair will provide a slow-release fertilizer right in the root zone. Mix 3-6 inches of compost into the top 8-12 inches of soil.
Potting Mix for Containers
Create custom potting soil by combining one part compost with two parts container mix or coir. The composted hair gives container plants access to nitrogen and micronutrients with each watering.
Top-Dress Lawns
Spread 1/4-1/2 inch layer of hair compost over grass lawns in early spring and fall. The compost will break down slowly and feed the grass roots over several months. Rake lightly to work in.
Mulch for Landscaping Beds
Use composted hair as an organic mulch around perennials, trees, and shrubs to retain soil moisture and provide nutrients. Maintain a 2-3 inch layer, and refresh it yearly as the hair fully decomposes.
Compost Tea Fertilizer
Brew “compost tea” by steeping compost containing hair in water for 1-2 weeks. Use the nitrogen-rich liquid as a foliar spray or soil drench to boost plant growth and provide micronutrients.
Tips for Successful Hair Composting
Composting hair does take some extra forethought compared to typical compost ingredients. Follow these tips for the best results:
- Cut hair into 1-2 inch pieces so it breaks down faster and doesn’t mat.
- Alternate thin layers of hair with carbon-rich materials like sawdust, straw, or dried leaves.
- Use hair sparingly, and don’t let it exceed 10% of the total compost volume.
- Monitor moisture and oxygen levels. Hair composting works best when the materials are kept evenly moist but not saturated. Turn piles or use aeration tools to introduce more air.
- Blend composted hair thoroughly into soil or potting mixes. Don’t leave large clumps sitting on the surface.
- Store any unused finished hair compost in a covered bin or bag to prevent nitrogen loss.
- Avoid composting chemically treated hair, which can harm plants. Only use natural, unprocessed hair.
- Be patient, as hair can take 4-12 months to fully break down depending on conditions.
With the right approach, hair can be successfully composted at home and used to create an exceptional growing medium for gardeners. It recycles an abundant waste product into plant food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I compost pet hair along with human hair?
Yes, pet hair like dog and cat fur can be mixed right in with human hair for composting. The keratin proteins found in fur and hair mean they break down on a similar timeline. Make sure to only use clean, pest-free pet hair.
What temperature does hair compost reach?
Ideal internal temperatures for composting hair range from 130-150°F. This allows the keratin to slowly break down over several months. Higher temperatures above 160°F speed decomposition but also drive off more nitrogen from the hair.
How do I know when the hair has finished composting?
Composted hair becomes indistinguishable from other organic matter. It will appear dark, crumbly, and soil-like, with no recognizable strands of hair visible. Finished hair compost is safe to use in gardens when it no longer heats up when rewetted.
Can I put hair down the garbage disposal to compost it?
Hair can wrap around the blades and clog drains, so it’s not recommended to put hair down the garbage disposal. Small food particles are better suited for disposers. Collect hair and add it directly to backyard compost piles instead.
What happens if I add too much hair to my compost?
Excessive amounts of hair can clump together and resist breaking down. Limit hair to 2-3 cups per cubic yard of compost. If you see matted clumps of hair in the compost, break them up and mix in additional browns like dried leaves or cardboard.
Is human hair safe for vegetable gardens?
Compost containing human hair that has fully broken down can safely be used to fertilize vegetables and other edible plants. Avoid using hair compost before it has finished decomposing, as fresh hair could potentially transmit diseases.
Final Thoughts
Composting hair sustainably recycles waste into a valuable soil additive that provides nitrogen, micronutrients, and organic matter to help plants thrive. Follow the guidelines in this article for success adding hair to your home composting system. With a little diligence, you can turn hair from a gross nuisance into “black gold” for your garden! Let us know if you have any other questions about the process.