For Subscribers

Making Matters: how to care for your bow hair

2025-12-12T09:32:02.057

8727 31-Jul-25-CS

Musicians might not realise how important the quality and condition of their bow hair can be. Canisa Sie gives a guide to caring for this vital part of a string player’s arsenal

Bow hair is one of the most sensitive – and often misunderstood – materials in a string player’s world. While technique, instrument and bow quality rightly take centre stage, the humble horsehair quietly plays a vital role. As the final point of contact with the string, it helps shape every nuance of sound – and is surprisingly responsive to its environment…

Already subscribed? Please sign in

Subscribe to continue reading…

We’re delighted that you are enjoying our website. For a limited period, you can try an online subscription to The Strad completely free of charge.

  • Free 7-day trial

    Not sure about subscribing? Sign up now to read this article in full and you’ll also receive unlimited access to premium online content, including the digital edition and online archive for 7 days.

    Free trial

    No strings attached – we won’t ask for your card details

  • Subscribe 

    No more paywalls. To enjoy the best in-depth features and analysis from The Strad’s latest and past issues, upgrade to a subscription now. You’ll also enjoy regular issues and special supplements* and access to an online archive of issues back to 2010.

    Subscribe

 

* Issues and supplements are available as both print and digital editions. Online subscribers will only receive access to the digital versions.