I would like to know if all the Islamic women in the world could shave their heads and then happily go about w/o hijab, niqab, chador, purdah, and whatnot. Isn't their hair supposed to turn men in Satyrs? Well if they sold their hair that would fix the problem.

India was supplying huge amounts of hair for wigs for ultra-Orthodox Jewish women in the U.S., until some rabbi decided Indians weren't kosher:

http://tinyurl.com/5h4jkv (link to www.nytimes.com)

Urban myth. It was how the hair was processed. I also object to Ultra. As opposed to what. Wigs are fairly common across the entire spectrum of Orthodox. And for you women out there enjoying chemotherapy, the recommendation is to always contact an Orthodox woman for her wig suppliers, they are known to be the best.

Do you have a cite for this supposed urban legend?

"...Do you, the multitude, identify yourselves with Our design, and cause to be accomplished the great work of establishing equality with the nations of the earth."

The Japanese occupation of Korea doesn't sound like it was much of a fun time for the Koreans, but one has to admit, in the past century they've done a pretty bang-up job of following the spirit of the "great work."

"when we humbly peruse so spirited a proclamation, among all of us subjects of Great Korea who does not weep for gratitude, and strive his utmost?"

Yeah, "gratitude." Is that sarcasm, there? Or is that just how people talked in turn of the century Korea?

While Japan/Korea can compete for the brunette market, Italy should dominate when it comes to (real-hair) redhead and blonde wigs though, right?

Unless the Japanese have a way to uniformly bleach or color black hair - do they? I honestly have no clue, since I chose to take the course 'History of the CodPiece 101' over 'Wig Technology 152' as my Fey Elective Requirement back in college...

Uh a Rabbi? does that count?

Did the Italians hoard stocks of lustrous black hair so as to provide billionaire politicians such as Silvio Berlusconi with implants for his balding pate? Would John McCain attract the youth vote if he had cascades of golden ringlets tipping his shoulders? What Nordic maiden was sheared to satisfy Elton John's desire for a crowning glory? Stories about nuns are also pleasurable, stirring up all sorts of reactions, so why hasn't the decline in nunly vocations being addressed or Vatican 2 been denounced as having been detrimental to wig-making? What happened to all the hair which was shorn from "the brides of Christ" before the l960s? The author, Dan Brown, really missed out on this one because, as he well knows, Opus Dei had to be involved in all this skullduggery.

"been addressed". I was thinking that the tonsorial needs of men were neglected in the article and a crimson mist of rage blurred my vision for a minute or two. Parity of esteem and equal opportunity are imperative when writing about wigs. Hair extensions and implants also need attention from Mr. Leonard so that we can delve much deeper into the meaning of it all.

"skullduggery."

HA!

Mostly I just question how many European people could use hair that dark and stiff? Asian hair tends to be unmistakable. Maybe inside a puff?