01
Human
Human Hair
Clean, completely dry natural hair can be submitted as an eligible personal carbon source.
- Scalp hair
- Beard or facial hair
- Clean, dry body hair where suitable
- Long strands may be trimmed shorter for easier packing
Carbon Source
Black Jack® Memory · Carbon Source Guide
Human & Pet Carbon Sources.
Eligible human or pet hair and cremation ashes may be submitted for a documented personal carbon contribution within the Black Jack Memory Diamond laboratory workflow.
Every accepted sample is associated with an order-specific Carbon Sample ID. The final product is a laboratory-grown diamond, not a mined diamond.
Black Jack-owned visual: personal carbon source → purification → finished laboratory-grown diamond.
Before sending anything: Do not mail hair, cremation ashes or another personal source until Black Jack confirms the required sample amount, Carbon Sample ID, packing method and approved destination for your specific order. Never automatically send a sample to the Black Jack LLC business address or an old laboratory/warehouse address.
Accepted Carbon Sources
Human and companion-pet sources can be accepted.
Acceptance depends on sample condition, order requirements, carrier rules and destination/import requirements.
02
Human
Human Cremation Ashes
A small approved portion of cremated remains may be submitted when the order and shipping route permit it.
- Must be dry and securely contained
- Use only the amount requested for the order
- Do not add liquids or chemicals
- Follow cremated-remains carrier rules exactly
03
Pet
Pet Hair / Fur
Clean, dry fur or hair from a companion animal may be accepted subject to the shipment route.
- Dog or cat hair/fur
- Other companion-pet hair/fur by approval
- Keep the sample clean and dry
- International animal-material rules can vary
04
Pet
Pet Cremation Ashes
Pet cremation ashes may also be used as an approved memorial carbon source.
- Must be dry and securely sealed
- Use an order-specific sample amount
- Keep source identity clearly documented
- Carrier/customs approval may be required
Prepare the Sample
Dry, clean, identifiable and easy to seal.
These preparation visuals are for sample condition only. Your order email controls the exact quantity, pouch, carrier and destination.
Ashes
Dry Cremation Ashes
The sample must be dry, securely sealed and free from added liquids, oils, perfume or other chemicals.
Do not wash or add water. Do not send until the approved cremated-remains routing is confirmed.
Hair / Fur
Clean & Completely Dry
Hair or pet fur should be dry and reasonably clean. Avoid oil, gel, wax, perfume, lotion or wet samples.
Do not burn or chemically treat the sample before sending unless Black Jack specifically instructs otherwise.
Optional Preparation
Long Hair May Be Cut Shorter
For easier compact packing, long hair may be cut into shorter strands— approximately 1–2 cm pieces is a practical packing size.
Cutting is for packing convenience; it is not represented as a scientific requirement for carbon recovery.
How Much Should You Send?
Use the amount confirmed for your order—not a universal internet number.
Memorial-diamond companies use very different sample quantities because laboratory workflows, purification methods, target output and source condition differ. Black Jack therefore confirms the required amount for each order in writing.
Send only the clean, dry quantity requested in your order instructions. More is not automatically better, and unnecessary excess should remain with the family.
Send only the approved portion requested for your order. The entire cremated remains are not required unless Black Jack expressly confirms otherwise.
Human hair + ashes, pet hair + ashes, or multiple family/pet sources should be combined only after Black Jack confirms that the specific order can use a mixed source and how each source should be identified.
Why we do not publish one fixed amount: Different memorial-diamond providers publicly request substantially different amounts of hair and ashes. Black Jack uses the order-specific laboratory requirement so the website does not create a false universal promise.
U.S. Cremated-Remains Mailing Guidance
Human and pet ashes can be mailed in the U.S.—but only under the applicable carrier rules.
USPS Publication 139 specifically addresses shipment of both human and animal cremated remains, including shipments to an artisan.
Black Jack will provide order-specific routing. Customers should not choose a carrier or customs description on their own when sending cremated remains.
Do Not Send Without Approval
Keep the sample simple and uncontaminated.
Do not send damp/wet hair, fur or ashes. Contact support if the sample condition is uncertain.
Do not add water, perfume, oils, sanitizer, preservation fluid, cleaners or chemical products.
Do not combine several people or pets into one unlabeled pouch. Mixed-source orders require written approval and identification instructions.
Do not send blood, tissue, teeth, bone pieces or other biological material unless Black Jack has specifically reviewed and accepted that source and the shipping route.
Documented Sample Workflow
From personal source to laboratory-grown diamond.
The approved package is matched to the customer order and Carbon Sample ID.
The sample condition is reviewed and the eligible material enters the applicable carbon-recovery/purification workflow.
Purified carbon is used within the controlled laboratory-growth process suitable for the order.
The rough laboratory-grown diamond is cut/polished and associated with Black Jack’s authenticity documentation.
Scientific disclosure: The finished Memory Diamond is crystalline carbon and is not represented as retaining biological tissue, DNA or intact physical remains. The customer-provided source is documented as a personal carbon contribution within the production record. Black Jack does not claim that standard gemological grading can independently prove whose hair or cremation ashes supplied the carbon.
Carbon Source FAQ
Common questions before sending a sample.
Can Black Jack accept human cremation ashes?
Yes, an approved portion of human cremation ashes can be accepted for an eligible Memory Diamond order, subject to sample condition and the approved shipping route. In the United States, cremated-remains mailing must follow the applicable USPS or other authorized carrier requirements.
Can Black Jack accept human hair?
Yes. Clean, completely dry human hair can be accepted as a personal carbon source. Long strands may be cut shorter for easier packing. Do not apply oils, perfume, gel or other products before packing.
Can I use pet ashes or pet hair?
Yes. Eligible pet cremation ashes and clean, dry pet hair/fur can be accepted. International animal-derived material can be subject to country-specific import or carrier rules, so wait for Black Jack’s routing instructions before shipping.
Should I cut the hair before sending it?
Long hair may be trimmed into shorter pieces—approximately 1–2 cm is a convenient packing size—but cutting is not presented as a scientific requirement. The important points are that the sample is clean, dry, correctly identified and securely sealed.
How many grams of hair or ashes do I need?
The exact amount is order-specific. Different laboratory workflows can require very different quantities, so Black Jack confirms the required amount in the order/sample instructions rather than publishing one universal quantity.
Can I mix hair and ashes?
A mixed source may be possible for an approved order. Do not combine sources before Black Jack confirms the required quantities, labels and documentation for each source.
Can I send cremation ashes from outside the United States?
International service is possible only where the origin country, destination, carrier and customs rules permit the shipment. Contact Black Jack first so the correct route, description, documents and destination can be confirmed.
Does the finished diamond contain DNA or ashes?
The finished product is a laboratory-grown diamond made of crystalline carbon. Black Jack does not represent the finished stone as containing biological tissue, DNA or intact cremation ashes.
Before You Send
Read the sample and production guides together.
Carbon Source Approval
Have a different source or unsure how much to send?
Contact Black Jack before packing it. Include your country, Order ID and a short description of the available source. If you already have a Carbon Sample ID, include it.
Do not send any personal source until the destination and packing instructions are confirmed.
Email Carbon Source Support →