Humans of China: "My Hair Is With Me All the Time, Wrapped With the Hair Growing on My Head"

This article comes from Humans of China (WeChat ID: humans-of-china), which aims to document and tell the stories of the many varied people of this vast country, one individual at a time. The lady below is from Guangxi province and is a member of the Yao minority.

I really like my long hair. It might be because it's all I'm used to and I don't know any different – I've had long hair for as long as I can remember. I've only ever cut my hair once, when I was 18, with the help from mother who also has long hair. She's also probably more traditional than I am.

Before I married, I could not show my hair in public, and it was wrapped around the top of my head into an "O" shape. After I married, I was then allowed to reveal some hair at the front in a kind of ball shape. The water I use to wash rice is the same water I use to wash my hair. The starchy water keeps my hair shiny and healthy and as you can see there are no gray hairs.

All hair is sacred to us and I know other people in China will sell their hair. I will never sell my hair even though I could make a lot of money. The hair that was cut off at the age of 18 was kept and the hair that falls out is also kept. It's with me all the time, wrapped with the hair that is growing on my head, but I take it out at night.

My parents can't speak Chinese and I never had the chance to study Chinese myself. I learned from chatting with tourists that visit us here. At home, we only speak our minority language. My dad spends his days farming and my mum spends her days farming or making clothes. She taught me how to make clothes too. If I am not busy selling the things I've made I am busy making more things to sell.

I am currently making funereal clothes, used for when we or someone in our family dies. During times of mourning, we only wear black. When we die and are buried, we are buried with our hair and body wrapped in black clothes. Black clothes are much simpler to make compared to the pink ones we wear as they are more complicated. The clothes are made in sections and then the sections are sewn together. Each piece takes around three months to make and then it's ready to be worn. I add silver beads around the collar to add value to the clothes.

Way before I cut my hair, my mum pierced my ears. We also melted down six large coins and then molded them into earrings. They are heavy but I think they look good.

Read more of Humans of China's fascinating series right here.

Photo: Cameron Hack