Hair - The Museum, Not The Musical

Ever wonder what they do with all the hair that gets cut off at salons and barbershops?

Most people chuck it in the nearest trash can, some people sell it to make wigs.

Lelia Cohoon collects it for her Hair Museum in Independence, Missouri.

Lelia owns a cosmetology school and has been collecting ornate designs made of human hair for quite some time now.  The walls are covered with framed braided hair from the turn of the century. Some strands have been woven into bracelets and wreaths while others represent artistic renditions of Oreo cookies and butterflies.  There is even a flower arrangement made out of the hair from an entire family and a hair diary from a female convict.

So far, Leila’s collection includes a hair wreath from actress/comedian Phyllis Diller and there may be more famous hair on the way.  The museum was even featured in a 1995 issue of People Magazine, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and numerous other newspapers and publications.

Admission is five dollars and afterwards you can get a reduced rate haircut from her students.  If you’re interested in this one-of-a-kind museum you can visit it at the College of Cosmetology at 815 W.  23rd St.

For more information visit http://www.hairwork.com/leila/

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