Lampworking a lock of hair

[micpru]

I have been asked to make a bead and include a lock of hair. Has anyone done this before- any tips? x

[Redhotsal]

The hair won't survive unless you make a vessel or hollow bead and then insert it. If you include the hair into the hot glass, the hair will burn away (with a horrible smell!) but it will leave a silvery trace behind it of tiny bubbles, which I guess are carbon dioxide. Works best if then encase this quickly. The longer you work the glass the larger the bubbles will get, like when you do a bicarb bead. I've made hair beads before - here's a picture of some. Sometimes I make them for people who want a memorial but haven't got any ashes - or for small children keepsakes (like bronzed baby shoe type things):


Hairbeads2 by redhotsalbeads, on Flickr

[micpru]

Thanks Sal x

[Redhotsal]

PS - always good to have a few practise runs first - which is easily done by using snippets of your own hair. Beware though - if it's for a baby or small child their hair is really fine and difficult to control!