5TH HAIR STORE ROBBED IN TWO WEEKS IN HOUSTON TEXAS

FOX 26 News | MyFoxHouston 5th Hair Store Robbed in two weeks in Houston Texas.  Robbers hit another hair extensions store just south of Downtown. It's the fifth time in this rash of robberies within weeks. Police say the robbers shot the owner of the Mr. Indian Hair Shop in the foot. Police say around 2 p.m. Friday two men wearing masks came into
the shop located on the 4800 block of Almeda with guns and demanded packets of hair. They forced the employees to the back of the store and when the owner came out to see what was going on they shot him, took off, but made out with nothing. Police say the shooters took off in a dark pick up truck. They aren't sure if this incident is linked to other similar robberies.
 Source : Fox News Houston
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/clip/10454731/5th-hair-supply-store-robbed-in-under-two-weeks  

Most popular hair wefts

The most popular and commonly available form of hair is known as premium hair. It is sold in the majority of beauty supply stores worldwide. The roots and tips of hairs are interwoven in premium hair which causes

tangling. This is due to the opposing cuticle layers catching onto one another. However; as it is the most inexpensive type of hair, it is a best seller.

Premium hair comes in two types:

• Regular premium hair: generally the least expensive type of hair. The cuticles are present in different directions and the hair is prone to tangling.
• "Tangle-free" premium hair: this is obtained by chemically removing the cuticles using an acid bath. This process reduces the friction among hairs, leaving the remains tangle-free hair. In order to give the appearance of natural healthy hair, a laminate is applied to the hair to give it a shiny and silky look.

Synthetic hair

Synthetic hair is made of a wide array of different [synthetic fibers]. Synthetic hair, just like human hair, comes in weave (weft) and single strands (bulk) for braids. Synthetic hair does not last as long as human hair because it gets quickly damaged by friction and heat. The quality of hair varies greatly. Depending on quality, it may never look like human hair, as it can be stiff and move differently from human hair. Synthetic hair is much less expensive than human hair. Heating appliances such as curling irons and straightening combs generally should never be used on most types of synthetic hair. There are some newer versions of synthetic hair that are more resistant, human-like hair that can be heat processed allowing for heat styling.

• Futura

Futura is a type of synthetic fiber that can withstand heat up to 400 degrees F, and can actually outlast human hair. It is very similar to human hair given it is tangle-free and has a natural sheen. It can be straightened or curled, however, it takes longer to set; but futura cannot be colored. It is sometimes sold as a human hair blend. ^[6]

Human hair

With human hair the hair shaft is made up of dead, hard protein, called keratin, in three layers. The inner layer is called the medulla and may not be present. The next layer is the cortex and the outer layer is the cuticle. The cortex makes up the majority of the hair shaft. The cuticle is formed by tightly packed scales in an overlapping structure similar to roof shingles. Most hair-conditioning products attempt to affect the cuticle. There are pigment cells that are distributed throughout the cortex, giving the hair its characteristic color. The cuticle is a hard shingle-like layer of overlapping cells, some five to twelve deep, formed from dead cells that form scales which give the hair shaft strength and protect the inner structure of the hair. The hair cuticle is the first line of defense against all forms of damage; it acts as a protective barrier for the softer inner structures, including the medulla and cortex.

A packet of 10-inch premium hair

The cuticle is responsible for much of the mechanical strength of the hair fiber. A healthy cuticle is more than just a protective layer, as the cuticle also controls the water content of the fiber. Much of the shine that makes healthy hair so attractive is due to the cuticle. In the hair industry, the only way to obtain the very best hair (with cuticle intact and facing the same direction) is to use the services of "hair collectors," who cut the hair directly from people's heads, and bundle it as ponytails. This hair is called virgin cuticle hair, or just cuticle hair. Most human hair used for weaves and wigs is obtained from Asia (perhaps most often China, India, and Korea).^[7]

Human hair industry

The selling of human hair for weaves, wigs, and other hair styling products is an industry that generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually and is growing as a large export economy in some Asian regions, such as India, at a rate of 10-30 percent annually.^[8][9] In India, a large portion of the hair is sourced from Hindu temples where hair is donated for religious practices, particularly in honor of the Hindu God Vishnu. This hair is highly sought out for its 'virgin', untreated qualities, as well as its great length. From there the hair is cleaned and the color is removed before being re-dyed for Euro-centric style tastes.^[10][11]

In Esther R Berry's research paper, The Zombie Commodity: Hair and the Politics of its Globalization, ideas and concepts related to first and third world identity structures, as well as the concepts of 'ethnic hair' and grotesque beauty ideals are discussed in great detail.^[9

Source : Wikipedia