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As a player of a bowed stringed instrument, at some point youve needed to have your bow
rehaired. Most of the time, musicians just take their bows to the closest violin shop without
thinking about the source or type of hair that will be used. But there are differences in bow
hairwith names like stallion, mare, Mongolian, Siberian, and so onand those differences can
have an impact on your playing and your sound.
Just how different are those various types of bow hair? And how do the characteristics determine
the quality of hair that goes into your bow?
First, a few basic facts about the origin and nature of horse hair.
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Traditionally, the regional or country-of-origin designation of bow hair has identified not only
where the hair actually came from, but also significant characteristics of the hair. However, with
increasing globalization of local industries, the same country distinctions are now used to
describe different properties of hair, and not so much where the hair actually originates. So, the
bow maker or rehairer has almost no way of knowing the actual origin of bow hair due to the
way hair is bought, processed, and bundled in China. Few hair processors have direct
relationships with those who raise the horses, as most hair is purchased at large wholesale
auctions in bales and pallets weighing more than 50 pounds.
Oftentimes, horsehair from different sources is blended or mixed to provide a superior, uniform
product.
Further Resources
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String players often associate quality with the color of the hair. The white or light tan color that
is seen in bow hair is the natural color, but color alone does not indicate the quality of the hair.
The whitest bow hair is often of the highest quality, but it is also true that off-white hair can be
well-sorted and of the highest quality. Nonetheless, whiter horsehair with less color drift is often
preferred by string players, even at a premium price.
Because of this color preference, some processors will bleach the hair to lighten the color.
However, bleaching damages and weakens the structure of the hair. Most rehairers and violin
shops would never knowingly offer bleached hair, but it is on the market. So, how do you
recognize bleached hair? One way is if the color is white uniformly throughout the length of the
hair. Another clue is that bleached hair breaks much more easily than non-treated hair.
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