Hairwork is the art of crafting hair into keepsakes for sentimental or memorial purposes. Contrary to popular belief, it does not always signify a passing but can be a token of love, and endearment between friends too.
There are a few different artistic styles of hairwork:
- Gimp/Wire Work is when the hair is wrapped around a wire and then twisted into shapes like flowers, which are then put together to create dimensional ‘Hair Wreaths’
- Fancy Work is when hair strands are used like thread to create lace and embroidery.
- Painted/Dissolved Work describes a technique where the hair is cut/crushed up into tiny bits and then mixed with a painting medium and applied with a brush to a surface in layers, to create a picture.
- Palette Work aka Flat Work is a method where the individual hairs are lined up neatly next to each other in a very thin layer and then glued, manipulated, cut, and layered into various shapes.
- Table Braiding Work uses a ‘table’ with weights and a counterbalance attached to strands of hair to create intricately braided items. This is the technique I specialize in.

Submit a Custom Hairwork Request (sorry, it is currently closed)

Please wait for my email reply. I may ask for pictures or more details. Based on your responses, I will give you a rough estimate for the cost of your hairwork.

If I have availability on my calendar for your project, I will ask you to schedule a required (you don’t have to turn on your camera if you don’t wish to) 30-minute Zoom consultation via a simple booking link, to finalize your project details and provide you with an accurate quote.

If I cannot accommodate your request right now (or I do not receive a response from you in a timely manner), I will ask if you wish to be added to my waitlist and notified of future openings.

Before your scheduled Zoom consultation, I will send you a link to pay a $150 non-refundable design deposit. This design deposit ensures I can provide the best service to those who are serious about the custom hairwork process. This deposit will be applied to your project’s total price and is non-refundable if you cancel your order.

This is an extremely intricate and demanding craft. It can take me anywhere from 10-40+ hours to complete one braid. I hope you understand and appreciate the time and commitment I put into every project. Practicing this art means the world to me, thank you for your patience and understanding.

Custom hairwork starts at $650 USD for simple braided hair rings. Smaller lockets or knots I can do for a little less, bracelets start around $1500 USD. The final cost of a piece will vary according to the braid complexity and metalwork used - sterling silver vs. gold, etc.

A $150 non-refundable design deposit ensures I can provide the best service to those who are serious about the custom hairwork process. This deposit will be applied to your project’s total price and is non-refundable if you cancel your order.

After we meet for a design consultation to discuss your hairwork design, I will provide you with a final quote.

To secure your slot on my schedule, and before I can begin any work, I require a deposit of at least 50%.

Then, you can make payments but the total balance must be paid before I will release the completed piece to you.

You provide the hair for your bespoke pieces, it is what makes it so special. It can be collected from yourself, a friend, or a loved one. Always with permission of course.

The hair can be cut & in a ponytail, or it can be gathered from natural sheds while brushing/combing.

The hair must be clean & in good condition. I cannot work with very oily/dirty/matted hair.

- 2 inches (5 cm) minimum strand length for small hair knots or basket woven hair placed into small lockets or glass ring compartments.
- 6 inches (15.2 cm) minimum strand length for table-braided rings, bracelets, broaches, necklaces, etc. The longer the hair, the more options you have!

For the amount of hair needed, a good rule of thumb is to have a bundle about the circumference of a pencil. The actual amount can vary widely depending on the piece, I’ve used as little as 50 hairs, and as many as 1500. After we discuss your hairwork design, I will let you know how much hair I need.

If the strands of hair are long enough when pulled straight, then it can be braided. I will admit I have not worked with poc, textured, or extremely coiled hair yet (only curly), but I know it is possible and would be willing to try.

I would prefer to stick with only human hair at the moment. But my friends Corporeal Curios and Wild Carrot Hairwork may be willing to take on your pet hair request and Jennifer Metesh Studios does magic with horsehair.

Possibly! I need to be sure the hairwork will fit and be secure. Please send me pictures of the jewelry via email (my website form won’t allow picture uploads) with measurement details, and I will confirm if it can be used before you make any purchases. zen@hairanthropology.com

Hair fibers are naturally robust, and your hairwork can endure for many generations with proper care. Some jewelry settings, like channel bands and pendants, are more protective. Other delicate styles may not be as sturdy. Generally, it is best to wear hairwork sparingly to prolong its lifespan.

Keep it dry and take it off before washing your hands, showering, bathing, swimming, or doing heavy activities like gardening, exercising, etc.

Hairwork's biggest enemy is moisture and oils collected from your skin or environment. These cause the fibers to swell and shrink, distorting and breaking the individual strands over time. You may know these as split ends.

Part of the meticulous crafting process is to select the longest and healthiest hair strands so that each piece starts as strong and smooth as possible.

Unfortunately, strands will naturally break over time. If you find a broken hair sticking out, do not pull on it, but carefully trim it close to the braid.

Hair jewelry is not indestructible, but if you care for your jewelry, it will last. All damage occurring to a piece under your care is your responsibility. If you are unsure how to care for your hairwork, please email me for help.

I always ensure to return any unused hair to you with great care.

Timing for most custom work is 16-18 weeks. Timing will depend on the item, my current workload, and when you get your hair to me. Please keep in mind everything is handmade by me and some techniques are very time-consuming. This art requires a lot of patience. Once we’ve discussed your order, I will provide you with an idea of my current timeframe.

USA: Sales tax will be applied at checkout if shipping within the state of Idaho.

International customers (outside of the USA): please note you will be responsible for customs fees, taxes, etc., in your country when you receive your package. I do not receive information about these details.

Maybe! It depends on what it is. Please email me photos (my website form won’t allow picture uploads sorry) and a short description of the work needed. If I can’t do it, I may be able to recommend someone else who can help you. zen@hairanthropology.com

Yes! Please see the Events page to view what’s currently on my schedule.

If you’d like to discuss hosting an in-person workshop or lecture please email me. Depending on your location I will need to make sure there are enough students enrolled to accommodate travel costs. (I am based in Idaho, USA)

I am also willing to do private lessons on table-braiding techniques via Zoom if this is something that interests you.

zen@hairanthropology.com

After we discuss the cost of your design, I generally require 50% to get started on your jewelry. The other half is required before I ship the completed piece to you. If you need to make payments, I can work with you.

All sales are final. As an extremely small business, I cannot accept exchanges or refunds unless a clear issue is my fault.

This includes physical items, digital items, customs, and tickets to events. In the rare event that you receive an item that broke in transit or is missing a part due to my error (rather than an error on part of USPS), please send photos within 24 hours of delivery and I will help.

I am not able to offer refunds or exchanges due to item misuse on part of the customer. This includes dropping, pulling, ripping, tearing, throwing, wetting an item that should not be wet, improper storage, allergies to gold, bronze, or silver.

If you cannot make it to an event, please let me know ASAP so we can try to find a replacement for your seat, or arrange a credit towards a future event. No refunds for no-shows.

Deposits for custom work: If for good reason you need to cancel your custom hairwork order after you’ve placed your 50% deposit, but before any work is done, there will be a 25% (1/2 of your deposit) restocking fee.

If you have any questions or need assistance before placing an order, please email me, I am happy to help.