Arts >> Art >> Fine Art

How to Use Hair to Make Art

Human hair has numerous, if not slightly bizarre, uses, such as in clothes and jewelry, furniture, nesting material for birds, as a gardening product and in wig making. Hair is also used in art, such as in sculpture, large-scale installations and wreaths. Make your own work of art out of human hair by creating a hair wreath. Such wreaths are easy to create and can be decorated however you choose, such as using hair ornaments only or winding garlands and flowers around the piece.

Things You'll Need

  • 2-foot lengths of hair about 2 to 3 inches thick, 4 to 10
  • Clear hair ties
  • Leather and ribbon strips (optional)
  • Thick craft/cardboard paper
  • Acrylic paints in assorted colors (optional)
  • Hair accessories and embellishments (optional)
  • Glitter (optional)
  • Garlands (optional)
  • Hot glue gun
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Plait hair to make long braids. Secure the ends of the braids with clear elastic bands or colored ribbons, leather or any other means of securing the hair that you find appropriate for the work you are creating. Make anywhere from 4 to 10 braids, depending on how thick you want your wreath. Secure the ends of the braids to one another to form a circle.

    • 2

      Trace the wreath on thick craft or cardboard paper and cut out the tracing. Use this as backing and support for your wreath. Apply backing to the wreath with hot glue.

    • 3

      Lay the wreath flat on a crafting table or similar clean surface. Apply a variety of paints to the wreath, though you might want to skip the paints or only use paints in certain areas if you made braids out of different hair colors. Add other embellishments such as hair ornaments and jewels, real or dried flowers, glitter and small figurines using hot glue. Glue small garland strands in a circular motion on top of your wreath if desired or weave the garlands around the wreath. Allow to dry thoroughly before use.

Fine Art

Related Categories