Silberschweif - How are the Braidings created for Horse Hair Jewelry

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How are the Braidings created for Horse Hair Jewelry

Preparing the Horse Hairs

It is important to process the horse hairs before braiding can even begin. First, the hair must be washed with a mild shampoo. Then the hairs are combed and spread out on a towel to dry. After drying, the hairs are sorted according to length and strength. In every bundle of hairs, there are some thin hairs which must be removed before further processing can take place so that the integrity and strength of the final braid is not compromised.

In order to create a bracelet, I need a bundle of hairs at least 40 cm in length. A choker type necklace requires 60 cm long hairs and if the necklace should be longer, then the hairs need to be proportionately longer. Of course it is always possible to create jewelry from shorter bundles using silver connectors to join the strands together.

I need different lengths for the strands, depending on which plaiting style should be utilized. Each strand is made up of a specific number of hairs. The strands are twisted carefully and secured at each end with a knot. The twisting assures that all of the hairs are secure in each strand and in the final braided result. This is a very important requisite for the longevity of the creation.

Braiding the Horse Hairs

I generally use a round braiding technique with 8 strands around a central core of twisted horse hairs. Depending on the diameter of each strand, the result is a squarish braid with a differing diameter. Delicate braids of 3 to 6 mm diameter are especially flattering for feminine arms and necks, whereas the stronger 7 to 9 mm plaits offer a more masculine impression. Flat braids are produced through ten strand braiding. Coming soon: extremely fine spiral plaits as seen during the victorian era. These plaits are produced using a plaiting table and they accentuate the beauty of the horse hair in a very unusual manner.