The Art and Science of Hair Hanging

In 1916, during a visit to Mexico City, Francisca Vazquez witnessed something extraordinary. Her parents took her to the renowned Barnum & Bailey Circus, where P.T. Barnum's brilliance shone through his collection of unique global acts, presented to captivated local crowds.

Francisca, a second-generation circus artist, was mesmerized by a performance featuring two Chinese men with long, flowing hair. Clad in silk tunics, they were hoisted into the air by their hair, spinning gracefully in mid-air. Despite the apparent discomfort, they maintained calm expressions and even enjoyed tea from tables balanced on their laps [source: Wadler].

This legendary performance marked the Ayala family's introduction to the ancient circus tradition of hair hanging. Stories vary, but some say teenage Francisca either mastered the art of braiding and tying her hair on her own or was guided by a kind Chinese woman [sources: Beck, Wadler].

Even after five generations, the Ayala family women remain among the world's leading hair hangers, with their performances featured in the prestigious Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus [source: Millat].

The Ayala family is one of only a handful of hair-hanging families globally [source: Barr]. The rarity of this act highlights its extreme difficulty, as even experienced performers acknowledge the intense pain and inherent risks involved.

In May 2014, a tragic accident occurred during a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performance when a metal clasp broke, causing eight hair hangers to plummet 15 feet (5 meters) in front of 4,000 stunned audience members [source: Fieldstadt].

Marguerite Ayala, the granddaughter of Francisca Vazquez, experienced a severe fall in 1982, resulting in a broken neck and a week-long coma. Remarkably, she returned to the act just two years later [source: Wadler].

What are the secrets behind this incredible display of hair strength? Where did it begin, and what is it like to be swung by your scalp? Continue reading to uncover the fascinating world of hair hanging.

Ancient and Modern Hair Hanging

The origins of hair hanging remain somewhat mysterious, but most contemporary accounts trace it back to Chinese performers in the early 20th century [source: Barr]. Initially, male performers dominated the art, such as the tea-drinking Chinese artists Francisca Vazquez observed in Mexico City.

China's history of acrobatics, contortionism, and variety performances spans over two millennia. Ancient Chinese art and artifacts from as early as 200 B.C.E. to 200 C.E. depict agile acrobats performing daring feats, often to entertain the royal court [source: Chinese State Circus].

Acts like plate spinning, stilt walking, and contortionism evolved into what was known as the 'show of a hundred tricks,' considered the precursor to today's circus [source: Columbia Artists Management Inc.].

The Chinese hair hangers featured in the 1916 Barnum & Bailey Circus were among the pioneers to introduce their scalp-suspending act globally. While the core elements of hair hanging have remained largely unchanged over the past century, the majority of modern practitioners are now women, though not exclusively.

Circus schools rarely offer training in hair hanging. Simply Circus in Massachusetts is one of the few exceptions, restricting students to just 10 minutes of aerial practice after five years of preparation [source: Caligiuiri]. Typically, the skill is passed down through family members.

Hair hanging is akin to a high-wire performance. Behind the scenes, the artist's hair is intricately braided around a metal loop, which is then connected to a steel cable. This setup allows the performer to be elevated between 15 to 35 feet (5 to 11 meters) in the air, with assistants managing the rotation using pulleys and guide cables.

While suspended in mid-air for five to 20 minutes, hair hangers may execute elegant spins, perform acrobatic twists, manipulate hula hoops, or even juggle flaming objects [sources: Wadler, Barr]. Anastasia IV, a Polish hair hanger, holds a Guinness World Record for lifting the heaviest weight with her hair. Her act includes being inverted from a cable while supporting another performer solely with her hair [source: Cawley].

How do hair hangers achieve the strength needed to support their entire body weight with their hair? Stay tuned for grooming insights in the next section.

Hair Hanging Preparation

Witnessing a hair-hanging act for the first time, one might wish it were an illusion. Surely, the steel cable connects to a concealed body harness under their attire, right? Otherwise, wouldn't the pain be unbearable?

To address the question – yes, it is undeniably painful, especially initially. Marguerite Ayala from the renowned Ayala family shared with the New York Times that during her training, it felt as though scalding water was poured over her head. Her daughter noted that the most intense pain occurs when the performer is first hoisted, as the scalp stretches under the weight of over 100 pounds (45 kilograms).

Anastasia IV, a performer with the U.K.'s Circus of Horrors, revealed to the BBC that the initial pain brought her to tears. "It feels exactly as you'd imagine hanging by your hair would – an intense pulling sensation at the crown of your head" [source: Cawley]. Over time, she adapted, experiencing only a mild ache, though she often deals with headaches and a swollen scalp after a three-month tour.

Beyond the pain of suspension, the risk of falling is a significant concern, prompting hair hangers to meticulously strengthen their hair. The focus is on preventing brittleness and split ends to ensure safety and performance quality.

In 2014, Anastasia IV shared her detailed hair care routine [source: Cawley]:

However, the true key to hair hanging, as shared by its few practitioners, lies in the meticulous braiding technique. More details on this follow.

The Best-kept Secret of Hair Hanging

Beyond the pain involved, one might question how hair can genuinely support the weight of a human body.

A single healthy strand of human hair can bear ounces (100 grams), matching the tensile strength of copper wire of the same thickness. In theory, the hair on an average human head could hold up to 2 tons (1.8 metric tons) [source: Lee].

A hair hanger typically has around 3 feet (1 meter) of hair. However, the key to this performance lies not in the length or conditioning but in another crucial factor.

The true secret lies in the braiding technique. When the Ayala family shares their hair-hanging expertise with the next generation, the focus is on attaching the hair to the steel ring in a manner that evenly distributes the pulling force across the scalp.

Uneven tension on the scalp can result in clumps of hair being torn from the performer's head. Ouch!

The specifics of the braid and the knot that attaches it to the ring are closely guarded secrets. Each circus family has its unique braiding method, demanding extensive practice and years of expertise. Anastasia IV revealed she mastered it through a series of painful experiments.

Creating the braid is a time-intensive and collaborative process. Anastasia IV spends 30 minutes brushing her hair before her husband and an assistant meticulously weave it into a rope-like braid, a task that takes an additional 45 minutes [source: Cawley]. The Ayala family, however, has perfected the process, with the men completing the braiding and securing the hair to the support ring in just 20 to 40 minutes [source: Beck].

For more astonishing displays of human endurance and a few clever deceptions, explore the related Mytour links on the following page.