As Justin Bieber embarks on his first UK tour, the Canadian pop star's hair could be set to follow him around the globe.

A lock of the 16-year-old sensation's famous Beatles mop sold on eBay for $40,668 yesterday, one of the highest amounts ever paid for a piece of celebrity hair.

The new owner is GoldenPalace.com, an online casino that has a habit of purchasing unusual items. It is already the owner of Pope Benedict XVI's Popemobile VW Golf and William Shatner's kidney stone.

The company has suggested that the hair may soon head out on the road itself with all proceeds from the tour going to charity.

A good voice and a great head of hair

The hair was auctioned by television star Ellen DeGeneres, who received the lock as a belated birthday gift from Bieber when he appeared on her chat show last month.

All proceeds from the auction are going to the Gentle Barn organisation, which rescues abused farm animals and rehabilitates them to help at-risk and special needs children.

A lock of Elvis Presley's hair sold for $115,120 in 2002, the most for a piece of celebrity hair. In 2007 a lock from Cuban revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara made $119,000.

Beliebers the world over would surely love to get to grips with the singer's coiffure but for investors interested in the world of hair collectibles, options at more tempting prices are available. For example, hair specialist A Small Piece of History has a number of entry level locks on offer.

Bieber's UK tour begins in Birmingham tomorrow.