The practice of using human hair clippings to protect gardens and agricultural areas from deer is a long-standing home remedy. This anecdotal method involves collecting shorn hair from barbershops and beauty salons, then placing it around vulnerable plants. Proponents believe it is a simple, cost-effective, and natural way to deter browsing deer from damaging crops and ornamental foliage. This remedy is popular among homeowners and small-scale growers seeking alternatives to commercial products or physical barriers.
The Theory Behind Scent Repellency
The belief that human hair repels deer is based on the biological relationship between predator and prey. Deer are grazing animals whose survival instincts are acutely tuned to detecting threats, primarily through visual, auditory, and olfactory cues. The hair is assumed to carry the scent of a human, which is a major potential threat to a prey animal. This scent is categorized as a fear-inducing area repellent, designed to discourage the animal from entering a treated space.
The hypothesis suggests that when a deer encounters the human scent, its olfactory system processes the odor as a sign of predator presence, triggering an avoidance response. This reaction causes the deer to perceive the area as unsafe and move elsewhere to feed. The effectiveness of this method relies entirely on the deer’s consistent recognition of the human scent as a danger signal.
Results from Scientific Field Trials
Scientific evaluations of human hair as a deer repellent have yielded inconsistent and often discouraging results, challenging its long-held reputation. Controlled studies conducted by university extension services and agricultural researchers indicate that the hair’s effectiveness is highly variable and usually temporary. In some field trials, human hair placed near plants had no lasting effect on reducing deer browsing damage compared to unprotected control groups.
However, other specific studies have shown a temporary, statistically significant reduction in damage intensity. For example, research on young apple trees in Connecticut found that trees protected with hair balls experienced significantly less severe browsing (an average of 1.1 browsed buds per tree compared to 2.9 on untreated trees). This limited success is often attributed to the deer’s rapid habituation to the scent. Once a deer determines the odor is not accompanied by an actual threat, the fear response quickly diminishes.
The hair’s repellent properties are also short-lived because the volatile compounds carrying the human scent dissipate quickly due to rain, humidity, and sun exposure. To maintain deterrence, the hair must be replaced frequently, which is impractical for most gardeners. Furthermore, some researchers suggest that in successful studies, deer may have been avoiding the unfamiliar physical object, such as the nylon bag, rather than the hair’s odor itself.
Effective Deer Deterrents
Since human hair offers inconsistent and temporary protection, effective deer management relies on proven methods that create a more substantial barrier or lasting aversion. The most reliable solution is physical exclusion, such as fencing, which provides a complete and permanent barrier against deer entry. Fencing systems must be at least six to eight feet high to prevent deer from jumping over them, or utilize a slanted design that complicates the deer’s ability to clear the barrier.
Commercial chemical repellents are a practical option, generally categorized as either area or contact repellents. Area repellents rely on strong, sulfurous odors that mimic the smell of decay or predators; putrescent egg solids are a common and effective active ingredient. Contact repellents work by coating the plant material with an unpleasant taste, often using capsaicin or garlic, which deters the deer upon browsing.
These chemical products require consistent reapplication, especially after heavy rain, to maintain efficacy. For localized protection, scare devices can be useful, though deer can habituate to them. Motion-activated sprinklers that spray a burst of water when triggered combine sudden movement, noise, and tactile surprise, which can be an effective deterrent, particularly when rotated with other methods.