What To Do About Loose Bow Hairs on Your Erhu

Does It Really Affect the Sound?

Surprisingly — yes. Those loose hairs can interfere with your tone, especially if they brush against the other string unintentionally. The quick instinct is to snip them off or yank them out. But wait! When you do that, there’s a real risk of catching nearby hairs and making the problem worse.

That’s where the ancient wisdom of erhu masters comes in.

The Secret Method: Heat Treatment

Here’s a simple and effective technique that’s been passed down from teacher to teacher — and now to you. It uses heat to gently shrink the stray bow hairs back into place.

Disclaimer: This method works well if done carefully, but there’s always a risk of damaging your bow if you’re not cautious. Eason Music is not responsible for any melted bows, scorched hands, or injured pride. Proceed at your own risk!

What You’ll Need:

• A lighter (small flame is best)
• A bow with some rebellious hairs
• A steady hand (or at least no caffeine beforehand)

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Detach the Bow

Remove the bow from your erhu. This ensures you won’t accidentally burn or damage your instrument in case your “steady hand” gets stage fright.

Step 2: Apply Heat — Gently

Hold the bow horizontally. With the lighter in your other hand, ignite the flame and slowly bring it toward the loose bow hairs — keeping a safe distance at first.

Move the lighter gradually closer and you’ll see the magic happen: the loose hairs will shrink back, retreating to where they came from. It’s strangely satisfying to watch.

Tip: Don’t hold the flame directly under the hair for too long. A quick pass is all it takes.

Watch the Demo:

Here’s a video showing exactly how it’s done:

Burned Your Bow?

It happens to the best of us. If your bow didn’t survive the heat treatment, don’t worry — we’ve got replacements ready for you:

Shop Erhu Bows at Eason Music

Final Thoughts

Loose bow hairs might seem minor, but they can really mess with your sound and focus. With this simple heat trick, you can clean things up in just a few minutes — no scissors, no pulling, no drama.

Got your own erhu hacks? Drop them in the comments or tag us on Instagram @easonmusicsg — we’d love to hear from you!