Hair has been woven, sculpted, stitched and shaped into objects of deep personal and cultural significance.
Human hair has a long and complex history, carrying diverse cultural and social meanings. Across time and geography, hair has symbolized power, spirituality, identity, and social status.
This archive is a collection of historical uses of hair as material, as well as a growing index of contemporary artists and designers who incorporate hair into their work.
There is a growing movement around hair as material. While not new, it is undergoing a renaissance — recognized not only for its symbolic and tactile potential but also for its regenerative, sustainable nature.
Showing 198 of 198 entries
Tlingit Human Hair Basket
Kate Mack
Anouska Samms
A Bunch of Knobs
Jayoung Yoon
Hair for Triboelectric Interactive Textiles
Collina Strada
Loren Schwerd
Lisa Rinna in Christian Cowan
Swedish mittens
Charlie Le Mindu
Dilara Findikoglu
Friederike Filler
Donna Lowson
Jessica García Corral
Miila Hyökki
KIMHĒKIM Hair Embellished T-Shirt
Prada Shearling-trimmed tweed coat
Vivienne Westwood’s Scottie Boots
The Regal Crown of Queen Beatrix
Maison Margiela’s Deconstructed Aesthetic
Queen Charlotte and Mary Delany’s Creative Bond
Marken’s Timeless Hairstyle Tradition
Exploring Humanity Through Synthetic Hair Sculptures
The Power of The Sun: How it Impacts Hair Growth
The Hidden Gold in Our Hair and Skin
How Women and Men Approach Hairstyles Differently
The Beauty Revolution: The Rise of Waves in the 1930s
Hair and Identity During the Slave Trade
Ali Koç
Yixin Li
Beata Rekemova & Bente Bulens
Maria Sandhaus Rapoport
Pilar Palazzo
Dshamilja Tükerek
Women’s Defiance Amid Iran Protests
The Legend of Mary Magdalene and Her Iconic Transformation
Dennis Rodman’s Iconic Hair and Its Cultural Impact
Beauty Trends in the Middle Ages: The High Forehead Look
The Beauty of Unibrows in Ancient Greece
The Hopi Squash Blossom Hairstyle: A Symbol of Tradition
Alix Bizet
Risseth Yangüez Singh
Naomi Trotto
Aya Jadon
Beindy Aouad
Argelia Matus
Oku Ceremonial Tunic: A Symbol of Heritage and Liberation
Sonya Clark’s Hair as Art and Resistance
Weaving Strength and Struggle: Mona Hatoum’s Art of Resistance
A Love Woven in Time: The Story of Ancient Hair Sandals
The Art of Sentimental Jewelry
The Tradition of Cutting the Baby’s First Hair in Romania
Anshika Gauri Agrawal
Ivi Pivetta Viero
Alice Mestriner & Ahad Moslemi
Kelsey K. Conner
Julia Bonich
The Fascinating History of Real Hair Postcards
Anya Paintsil: Weaving Identity Through Textile and Hair
The Surprising Use of Human Hair in Animal Repellence
The History and Potential of Hair Sutures in Medicine
The Khipus: Ancient Recording Devices of the Andes
Lilli Malou Weinhold
Estelle Guillaume & Louise Clerc
Céline Arnould
Fleur Ouwerkerk
Aislinn F
Minghao Wu
Vilma Leino
Malwina Chabocka
A Unique Gift of Love: The Hair Sweater and Hat
The Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Hair in Ancient Africa
The Significance of Hair in Ancient Greece
Olga Yakovleva
Sofia Saleme
Sarah Nõmm
Isabella Mebarak
A Widow’s Tribute: The Embroidered Sheet of James Radclyffe
The Tradition of Courtroom Wigs
Haircraft of the Ancestral Puebloans
Tunga’s Mythical Connection: Capillary Xiphopagus Among Us
Clémentine Delait: The Bearded Lady of France
The Legacy of Stan Shuttleworth
McQueen’s Intimate Touch: Hair as a Hidden Signature
The Mysterious Cousin Itt
Gloria Da Silva
Lola Loup
Militsa Milenkova
Carla John
Janine Antoni’s Loving Care
Wartime Ingenuity: The Human Hair Sweater
Locks of Hair in the Library of Congress
The Afro: A Symbol of Resistance and Pride
The Mohawk: From Warrior Tradition to Symbol of Rebellion
Shaving and Beauty: Cultural Significance Across Rituals
Embracing Hair Love: A Father’s Journey
Kallirroi Kostikoglou
Jessica Sandoval
Sera Ghadaki
Geny Iorio
Pi Pa Piwosz
Attiya Usman
The Roots and Cultural Significance of Dreadlocks
The Significance of Masks and Hair in Lucha Libre
Elvis Presley’s Hair Sells at Auction
The Strength of Hair: An Unexpected Power
The Symbolism of Love Tokens in French Literature
The Symbolism of Hair in Travel Traditions
Achilles’ Sacred Waves
The Polynesian Coming-of-Age Haircut
Yixue Yang
Renata Molinari
Kiara Sombito
Anna Brooks
The Zulu Bride’s Headdress
The Chonmage: A Symbol of Honor and Tradition in Japan
The Significance of Braids in Quechua Culture
The Science of Hair Growth
Hair and DNA: What Can Be Discovered
The Little Princess Trust: Restoring Confidence with Real Hair Wigs
Ginger: The Oldest Mummy of Ancient Egypt
The Git-Git: A Violin of Romance in Mangyan Culture
Medieval Women’s Hair: Beauty, Modesty, and Social Norms
The Mandated Queue: A Symbol of Submission and Rebellion
The Evolutionary Mystery of Human Head Hair
The Mundan Ceremony: A Sacred Hindu Rite of Purification
Hair in Ancient Egypt: A Reflection of Social Status and Age
Maria Molteni
Amy Meng
Jennifer Blackburn
Hair and the Caste System in Ancient India
The Beauty and Symbolism of Ancient Chinese Hair Ornaments
The Sacred Significance of Hair in Navajo Culture
Human Hair Embroidery: A Unique Chinese Tradition
Hair Dyeing in Ancient Rome
A Biblical Tale of Strength and Betrayal
The Humiliation of Shaved Hair: A Symbol of Dignity
The Symbolism of Royal Hair in the Merovingian Dynasty
The Venus of Brassempouy: An Ancient Hairstyle in Ivory
Mourning in Madagascar: A Widow’s Sacrifice
Nneka Kai Scruggs
Omar Antonio
Kelsey Lenoch
Rahel Ruppen
Pamela Christine Kleemann-Passi
The Long-Haired Tradition of Huang Luo
The Allure of Long Lashes: A Timeless Obsession
Vivienne Westwood’s Protest Against Climate Change
California’s Landmark Law Against Hair Discrimination
Sophie van den Berg
Zoe Hay
The Use of Human Hair in Commercial Bread Production