‘Hair bows’ created by renowned SEA bow maker

MANILA, Philippines – A Singapore-based archetier has created the world’s first-ever “Hair Bows” – violin bows which were re-strung with actual human hair.

Cream Silk, a leading hair care brand in the Philippines, collaborated with Paul Seach Joo Goh, South East Asia’s only violin bowmaker, to create violin bows using human hair conditioned and strengthened with Cream Silk.

Watch this video to see how he crafted the hair bows for Cream Silk. The event aimed to showcase the power of hair so strong, it can be used to make music.

The hair bows made their successful orchestra debut last October 17 at the Cream Silk Hair Sonata: The World’s First Hair Symphony Orchestra staged at NBC Tent in Taguig. Ten female members of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic orchestra used Goh’s hair bows, as they performed classical string arrangements carefully selected by conducter Maestro Gerard Salonga to showcase the strength and quality of music made by the hair bows. Prior to the event, public speculation circulated as to whether the challenge would actually work, but the hair bows worked perfectly as the Hair Orchestra finished each set without interruption.

The event was also praised for the flawless performances by Ballet Philippines as choreographed by Alden Lugnasin, as well as the premiere of an all-new, all-original short film by director Gus Cruz, featuring Cream Silk endorser, Sam Pinto. View Rappler’s photos and livestream of the event HERE.

The Bow Maker

Paul S.J. Goh, the man who created Cream Silk’s human hair bows, is not only a famous archetier (bowmaker), but also a veteran musical figure in Asia. 

He took up Music in Nanyang Technology University and graduated with first class honors. He taught Music and Physics at the Hwa Chong Institution, and condicted the institution’s string orchestra. Under his direction, the orchestra obtained a gold award at the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging, which paved the way for many public performances. Goh was also a principal violinist in the Singapore Philharmonic Orchestra for 7 years.

Trained in the Violin Bow Making School of America, he started his career in bowmaking in 2006 and designs bows that are inspired by 19^th century archetiers such as Pajeot and Tourte.

Violin bows are traditionally made with horse hair, with a rosin finish. Cream Silk collaborated with Paul S.J. Goh to create violin bows using human hair conditioned and strengthened by Cream Silk for the Hair Sonata: The World’s First Hair Symphony Orchestra. – Rappler.com