Bow Care: Making Your Bow Last
Most players think about their instrument first and their bow second. But the bow is half of your sound. It shapes your tone, your articulation and how much control you have over every note. A well-kept bow can last a lifetime. A neglected one can warp, lose its hair or crack in a matter of months.
The good news is that bow care is mostly about small habits. Here's what to do after every practice session, and the signs that tell you it's time to bring your bow in.
1. Loosen the hair after every session
This is the single most important habit. The stick of your bow has a gentle inward curve called the camber, and that curve is what gives the bow its spring. When you leave the hair tightened, you're pulling against that curve for hours or days at a time. Over time, the stick can lose its camber or even start to warp.
Every time you finish playing, turn the screw until the hair is just slack. It shouldn't be floppy, but it shouldn't be under tension either.
While you're tightening it before you play, don't overdo it. A rough guide: the gap between the hair and the stick at the middle of the bow should be about the width of a pencil. If the stick looks straight or curves outward, it's too tight.
2. Keep your fingers off the hair
The natural oils on your skin transfer to the bow hair and stop the rosin from gripping. Hair that's been touched a lot looks darker and greasy in patches and won't "catch" the string properly, no matter how much rosin you add.
Hold the bow by the frog and the stick only. If you're teaching a younger player, this is one of the most useful habits to build early.
3. Clean the stick, not the hair
Rosin dust builds up on the stick and on your instrument every time you play. Left alone, it hardens and can damage the varnish.
After playing, wipe the stick with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. Work from the frog up toward the tip, staying clear of the hair. Never use household cleaners, alcohol or water on the stick.
If the hair itself is dirty or greasy, don't try to wash it at home. That's a job for a rehair.
4. Store it properly (especially in Singapore's humidity)
Bow hair is natural horsehair, and it reacts to humidity. In very humid weather it stretches and can feel loose even at full tension. When you move suddenly into strong air-conditioning, it can tighten up. Both put stress on the stick.
A few storage rules that make a big difference:
- Always keep the bow in its holder in the case, with the hair loosened.
- Don't leave your case in a hot car or in direct sun.
- Avoid placing the case right next to an air-conditioning vent.
- Open your case and air it out every so often. Cases that stay closed and unused for long periods can attract bow bugs (tiny insects that eat bow hair).
5. Know when it's time for a rehair
Even with perfect care, bow hair wears out. Strands break, the hair loses its grip and it stops holding rosin well. Most regular players need a rehair every 6 to 12 months. Students who practise daily, or players preparing for exams and performances, may need one more often.
Signs your bow is due:
- Lots of broken hairs, or hair missing more on one side than the other
- The bow won't grip the string even after rosining
- The hair looks dark, greasy or uneven
- The hair won't tighten properly, or the screw turns without tightening
- It's been more than a year since the last rehair
If you notice anything else, such as a crack in the stick, a loose tip or a frog that wobbles, stop playing and bring the bow in for a check as soon as possible.
Rehairs at Gramercy Music
We rehair bows in-house with our own luthier, who checks the stick, frog and tip at the same time. Rehair pricing and turnaround depend on the bow, so we'll give you a quote when you bring it in. Book an appointment through our Repairs & Restoration page, WhatsApp or call us on +65 6345 3815, or drop by our store at 289 Tanjong Katong Road (Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 7pm).
We also stock everything you need for everyday bow care, from rosins like Larsen Royal Oak (S$15.50), Pirastro Schwarz (S$16.20) and Hill Light (S$18.90) to the Eurostring Polishing Cloth (S$12.50) for wiping down the stick.
Quick bow care checklist
- Loosen the hair after every session
- Don't touch the hair with your fingers
- Wipe rosin off the stick with a soft cloth
- Keep it in the case, away from heat and AC vents
- Rehair every 6–12 months, or sooner if you play daily
Look after your bow and it'll look after your sound.
Image notes: client bow/workshop photos for header, the "loosen the hair" section and the rehair CTA.
Internal link suggestion: rehair CTA links to https://gramercy.com.sg/pages/repairs-restoration; link to "How Often Should You Change Your Strings?" once live.