is that a used condom in your hair?

my bff from back in the day sent me a story today that is just strange. i can't help but share:

according to afp USED CONDOMS are recycled, turned into hair bands, and sold in bags of ten for three cents at various markets and beauty salons in southern china. the state media said today that these recycled condom hair bands threaten to spread "sexually-transmittable diseases they were originally meant to prevent."

government officials are saying the recycled bands are very popular because they are cheaper than other hair bands, and the afp article notes that recycling condoms is illegal and this is just another blow to china's image of being a country that manufactures unsafe products.

i'm curious as to whether or not the people in southern china KNOW they are putting recycled condoms in their hair. surely not...