Ooof so sorry it’s been a little while since I updated my website. Take a look around, I added an FAQ page and have been working on quite a few hair projects lately, so here’s the rundown on some of the highlights; new hairwork jewelry, an upcoming workshop, and annoying long chin hairs. Yes, chin hairs.

First of all, this gorgeous red beauty. I had the absolute honor, and pleasure, of transforming these firey strands, collected from her own natural hair sheds, into an eye-popping keepsake ring for a good friend of mine. This was also a new braiding pattern for me and I am in love with the way it turned out. And thankfully, she adores it too!

I’ve also been working on a few other projects, 2 rings, a pendant, and some exciting new ring findings I’ll be adding to my jewelry offerings - some are new designs and there a few gorgeous antiques I’ve picked up too! You might have already seen some sneak peeks on Instagram, and I can’t wait to reveal these finished pieces to you when they’re complete.

Next, I’ve been in a research deep dive on Mr. Mark Campbell of Chicago, Illinois. You may have heard his name in the hairwork community because he is the author of the book, “Self-Instructor in the Art of Hairwork” published in 1867, which many of us, myself included, still use today to learn this craft. But just who is Mark Campbell and where did he learn his hair-working skills? I’ve uncovered a lot of new information I’d never heard about him (and his career) that I think you’ll find interesting. I am working on pulling out the best parts and putting something together for you. This brings me to some exciting news.

I will be teaching an in-person workshop about the history of hairwork and table-braiding techniques in Chicago! There will also be a public pop-up shop where you can bring me your hair and see my jewelry and braid offerings in person to place an order. It will be on May 20, 2023, and is hosted by the lovely Mickey Alice Kwapis in her studio. All details and tickets can be found on Mickey’s website: https://www.mickeyalicekwapis.com/workshops/hairanthropology

And finally, in the realm of “Hair Anthropology” research, I’ve been doing a bit of personal exploration when it comes to body hair and more specifically, how I feel about myself au naturel. I completely stopped removing hair back in November of 2022…my eyebrows, upper lip, chin, arms, armpits, bikini line, legs, feet, and toes.

Why? Because I’m trying to understand better the influences and reasons why I chose to remove it all in the first place. I’ve been shaving for nearly 30 years! Is it the local culture, religious views, personal preference, or something else? There is certainly a big mix of factors that play into how we feel about the hair on our bodies and the expectations surrounding it. I’m trying to reset my mind and give it a fresh look.

To be honest, it’s not been a comfortable journey for me. First, to realize I had never seen or met my hairy self before now is a wild trip to take. It took me a while before I could look in the mirror and lift my arms. I’m not the hairiest person out there, but I do have a natural ‘excess’ of testosterone that biologically contributes to ‘extra’ body hair growth for a woman. I took medicine to inhibit this for many years, but only recently stopped because our new insurance didn’t want to pay for it. This plays into thoughts about gender fluidity, roles, and the external framings of what females vs. males ‘should’ look/be like.

As an AuDHD (ADD/Autistic) person, I also have sensory sensitivities so it’s been difficult to adjust to the feeling of hair in places I don’t remember ever feeling before. The hairs on my legs have gotten so long that the static catches at them in my bedding. And the two long hairs growing from my chin tickle at me in the breeze. I also can’t stand to look at them, one is curling like a pube. I worry about what people in public might think if they notice. It shouldn’t matter what random people think. But what about my partner, should they have a preference on how I keep my body hair? To be fair, this exploration of mine has been awkward for them too, which weighs on me.

Reframing and unpacking all this is quite a hairy situation… and is a continued journey.

That’s it for now. Stay curious friends.