Bow Care

1. Do loosen your bow hair when it is not being used.  Most students forget to do this and often end up having problems with their bow.  Even fiberglass and carbon fiber bows should always be loosened.

2. Do have your bow rehaired regularly.  Do not let too many hairs go missing since that will pull the stick to one side, causing a warp.

3. Do not swish your bow to get rid of excess rosin.  You may accidentally snap off the head of the bow.

4. Do not applaud with your bow stick against the music stand. You will damage the wood.

5. Do not allow the ivory/mammoth tip/faceplate to remain cracked or missing, the bow head could be damaged.  Always make sure the bow’s faceplate is in one piece.

6. Do not drop your bow.  You may break it.

7. Do not touch the bow hair with your hands.

8. Do not over-rosin your bow hair.

9. Do not clean 'dirt' or grease off the bow hair with anything!  Take it to a professional.

10.  After playing, wipe the rosin off the stick and frog with a dry microfiber cloth.

11.  Do not pull broken hairs out.  When hairs break, cut them with scissors close to the base of the head or frog.

12.  Make sure you always store your bow in the case.

13.  Remember that weather changes will affect the length of the hair.   Bow hair becomes shorter in the winter and longer in the summer.   If you travel from the humid coast to the dry interior, hair will naturally shrink. 

14.  Have your repairs done only by an expert.