The Pieces on This Page Have Been Created Using the "Hair Flower Technique

Hair flowers are made by wrapping the hair around a rod and using a fine wire to hold it together.  Depending on the size of the rod and the amount of hair used, different looks are produced.  Many different shapes and sizes of flowers could be made in this manner.  Each petal and leaf is individually made and then combined to create the flower shape desired.  In the picture above theree are several sizes and shapes used to create each "petal".

Hair flowers were then arranged together to form large wreaths which were placed inside a deep frame.  Sometimes these wreaths incorporated the hair of an entire family and got quite large.  They were made to be hung on a wall and displayed.  Not all wreaths were made as memorials
to a deceased; many were made to honor the members of a family, a church group, schools, etc.

Most of the large hair wreaths were formed into a horseshoe shaped wreath that was placed on a silk or velvet background inside the frame.    When memorial wreaths were made, hair was collected from the deceased and added to the wreath whenever any one died.  The top of the wreath was always kept open at the top....ascending heavenward.  It is reported that the newest addition would be placed in the center, and then moved to the side to become part of the large wreath 
when the next person passed away.  The official mourning period was one year.