Hair Extenders Corner Hackle Market

In a story that sounds at first like an early April Fools joke, Angling Trade reported yesterday that a popular new trend in hair extensions is creating hackle feather shortages and driving prices through the roof. Since salons can charge as much as $5 per feather, the value of an average hackle feather has gone up by an amount that makes tying with them prohibitively expensive — if you can find the product at all.

“[Salon owner Joy] Douglas literally drove to Whiting Farms one night to lock down as much product as possible. She claims that Dr. Tom Whiting doubled prices on her overnight when he realized the quantities she was willing to buy. She has since had a major problem getting feathers and is trying to source from anywhere she can. Her main sources are Metz and Whiting.”