In the present study, human hair derived carbon powder (HHC) synthesized in home laboratory is characterized via SEM, AFM, FT-IR, XRD, Raman, XPS, and TGA. Then HHC is used as a low cost reinforcing filler at 0-50 wt% with phenolic resin for fabricating carbon fabric reinforced polymer composites (CPCs) and its carbon-carbon composites (CCs). CPCs are fabricated via simple hand-lay techniques for resin-HHC slurry impregnation followed by hot pressing while CCs are obtained by carbonization of CPCs at 600 and 900 degrees C. Effects of HHC loading on CPCs and CCs are evaluated through static and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, density, electrical conductivity, morphology, and microstructure studies. Tensile and flexural properties (strength and modulus) of CPCs and CCs improve significantly (similar to 25 to 73%) at 30 wt% HHC loading. Storage modulus (Z') and loss modulus (E'') of CPCs increase up to 132 and 104%, respectively with addition of HHC up to 40 wt%. E' and E'' of unfilled CCs increase with carbonization temperature, however they decrease with increasing HHC content. In addition to high specific properties, CCs also exhibit substantial increment (similar to 233%) in electrical conductivity and thermal stability, which make HHC one of the most suitable material for high temperature-structural applications. (C) 2018 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.