How to Compost Hair
Composting at home is an easy way to reduce the levels of yard and household waste that make it into your local landfill as well as create a nutritious soil additive. As you add different ingredients to your compost pile, they break down into different chemicals. Adding hair, either your own or from a pet, to your compost pile creates a nitrogen-rich compost for your garden. Be patient with your compost pile as it takes time for organic ingredients to break down into nutritive elements. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Compost ingredients, such as yard waste, vegetable matter and hair
- Garden hose
- Soil
- Plastic tarp
- Pitchfork or shovel
Instructions
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Break down your compost ingredients into smaller pieces, if necessary. Twigs and branches should be left no longer than 3 to 4 inches long. Other items, such as grass clippings, leaves and hair, are fine as they are.
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Place a 2- to 3-inch layer of twigs and branches on the bottom layer of the area you have chosen for your compost pile. The twigs and branches help to provide airflow to the rest of the compost.
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3
Add a layer of leaves, grass and other compost ingredients to the compost pile. This layer should be at least 4 inches deep.
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4
Wet the compost pile with a garden hose. Add enough water that the pile is wet, but not too soggy. Do this each time you add dry ingredients to your compost pile so the water can help break down the organic ingredients.
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5
Add 2 to 3 inches of soil to the compost pile after every layer of leaves, twigs and other ingredients. Continue to add layers of material until your compost pile reaches the top of your container or reaches a height you prefer.
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Add hair along with other compost ingredients as it becomes available. You can compost pet or human hair in the same manner.
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Cover the compost pile with a tarp to help retain moisture and speed decomposition.
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Use a pitchfork or a shovel to turn the compost layers a few times a week. As you turn them, make sure that the newer layers are mixed thoroughly with the layers below them.
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Tips & Warnings
Some cities offer free compost bins to residents. Contact your local city hall to see if your city participates in such a program.
If you opt to make your own compost bin instead of using a premade bin, you do not need to make anything fancy. You can wire mesh into either a circular or square shape. The container should be at least 30 inches wide in all directions to give your compost enough room. You can also use wood scraps or any other building materials you have on hand to form a container for your compost.
Do not compost meat, dairy items or pet waste other than hair. Do not compost weeds or infected plant materials.
References
- Photo Credit BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
