Hair drop facts for kids
A hair drop is a special decoration worn by men from some Native American tribes. These tribes include those from the Great Lakes region and the Great Plains. A hair drop was tied into a man's hair.
Hair drops were often long, sometimes more than two feet! They usually had a decorated part made from porcupine quills or glass beads. This part was attached to a strip of leather. Later, some hair drops even had a piece of buffalo tail attached to them.
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What Are Hair Drops?
Hair drops are unique ornaments that show off a person's style and sometimes their importance. They were worn by men as part of their traditional clothing. These beautiful items were carefully crafted by hand.
How Hair Drops Were Made
In the past, hair drops were often decorated using a technique called porcupine quillwork. This is a very old art form where sharp porcupine quills are flattened, dyed, and then sewn onto leather or fabric. It takes a lot of skill and patience to create these designs.
As time went on, and more Europeans came to the Plains, new materials became available. Glass beads became very popular for decorating hair drops. Artists would use tiny glass beads to create colorful patterns and pictures.
Hair drops could also be decorated with other items. People often added shiny tin cones, pieces of silver, or beautiful feathers. Sometimes, horse hair was dyed bright colors and added to the hair drop for extra flair. For example, a hair drop from the Cheyenne tribe in 1870 was decorated with peacock feathers!
Hair Plates and Their Use
In the late 1800s, a new style appeared: hair drops that included shiny metal disks. These disks were often made from a material called German silver, which looks like silver but is actually a mix of metals. These metal disks were known as "hair plates."
Hair plates were most popular between 1835 and 1870. However, they are still made today for special events like powwows and other ceremonies. It's important to know that men's hair drops are different from women's hair plates. Women wore their hair plates attached to belts around their waists, not in their hair.
Special Meanings of Hair Drops
Beyond just being beautiful decorations, hair drops could also hold special meaning. Some hair drops were worn for important ceremonies or to bring good fortune.
For example, a hair drop from the Piegan Blackfeet tribe was worn to bring good luck and wealth. This particular hair drop even included horse hair, which was believed to protect the owner's horses.
The term "hair drop" can also describe braids of human hair. These braids were sometimes worn by Plains men and attached to other decorations. For instance, hair drops have been part of the special clothing worn in Native American Church ceremonies. They were sometimes attached to a Kiowa mescal bean bandoleer, which is a type of sash worn across the body.
