How to Preserve a Lock of Hair as a Keepsake
A lock of hair may be the most personal keepsake there is — a physical piece of someone you love, whether that's a child's first haircut, a parent who has passed, or a beloved pet. And because it's irreplaceable, how you take it, store it, and preserve it matters.
This guide walks through each stage: gathering a lock the right way, storing it safely for as long as you need, and the lasting options for turning it into something you can keep close — including hair memorial jewelry.
How do you preserve a lock of hair?
Secure the hair with a small elastic before you cut, then store it in a labeled paper envelope somewhere cool, dry, and out of sunlight. Hair is remarkably durable when kept dry — from there, you can take your time deciding on a lasting keepsake.
- →You need less than you think — a small lock is plenty, and we can work with as little as a single strand.
- →Paper beats plastic — envelopes let hair breathe; sealed plastic can trap moisture.
- →There's no deadline — stored well, hair keeps for years, so decisions can wait until you're ready.
How to take a lock of hair
Anyone who has cut hair knows the strands immediately want to scatter. The trick is to secure the lock before the scissors come out: gather a small section, slide a small elastic band down near where you'll cut, make sure it's snug, and cut just above it. The elastic holds the lock together permanently, and you can slip it straight into an envelope.
If the hair has already been cut loose, press it flat between the pages of a heavy book for a day or two — that settles the strands together and buys you time to decide what's next. Pet fur rarely holds together as a lock at all, so simply gather it gently into a labeled envelope; that's all it needs.
If your loved one has passed and is in the care of a funeral home, you can ask the staff to set aside a lock for you. It's a common request, and funeral directors handle it with care — don't be afraid to ask, even if arrangements are already underway.
How much hair do you need for a keepsake?
Far less than most people expect. For our memorial jewelry, we usually ask for about a lock — but we can work with something as small as a single strand. So even if all you have is a few strands saved in an old envelope or a baby book, a keepsake is still possible. The same goes for pets: we work with fur from dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, and even horsehair.
Whatever you send, anything we don't use is returned to you with your completed order — nothing is discarded.
How to store a lock of hair long term
Hair is one of the most durable keepsakes there is — kept dry, it lasts for generations. Three simple rules:
- Paper, not plastic. A paper envelope lets the hair breathe. Sealed plastic bags can trap moisture, which is the one real enemy of preserved hair.
- Label it now. Name and date, written on the envelope the day you seal it. Years from now, you'll be glad you did — especially if you keep locks from more than one person or pet.
- Cool, dry, and dark. A drawer, a memory box, or a baby book — anywhere away from sunlight, humidity, and heat.
What to avoid
Don't use tape or glue to hold a lock together — the adhesive has to be cut away later, which means throwing away part of the hair, and parting with even a few strands can feel surprisingly hard. Loose glass vials are also best avoided as a keeping method: they look secure, but the strands separate inside and become difficult to work with later. And for the keepsake itself, be wary of resin: it can yellow and break down over time with exposure to UV light and moisture, which is why every piece we make is 100% resin-free.
A keepsake with royal history
Keeping hair as a memorial is far from a new idea. After Prince Albert's death in 1861, Queen Victoria famously wore jewelry containing a lock of his hair — and hairwork lockets, rings, and brooches became one of the defining mourning traditions of the Victorian age. Today the practice is enjoying a quiet revival, as families look for ways to keep someone close that feel more personal than a photograph.
Can hair go inside memorial glass?
An honest answer, because we're often asked: no — hair can't go into the glass itself. Our glass is fused in a kiln, and that process only works with ashes. What we can do instead is just as beautiful:
- Sealed hidden chamber. Our jewelers place the hair inside a small chamber within the solid metalwork of the piece — a ring, pendant, charm, or cufflink — then permanently seal it and engrave a discreet chamber marker so you always know where it rests. Only you ever need to know it's there.
- Ashes and hair together. If you have both, we've created pieces with the ashes fused into the glass stone and the hair set beneath it — two keepsakes held in one.
You can read more in our guide to using hair instead of ashes in memorial jewelry, or browse the hair memorial jewelry collection — from necklaces to fully custom designs.
From lock of hair to lasting keepsake
Gather and secure the lock
Elastic on before you cut, then into a labeled paper envelope. For fur, gently collect what you can — a lock shape isn't needed.
Choose the keepsake
A sealed hidden chamber keeps the hair invisibly close; if you also have ashes, they can be fused into a glass stone with the hair set beneath. Take your time — a free phone or Zoom consultation can help you decide.
Send it safely
When you order, we send a free Collection Pack with instructions, a labeled sealable bag for ashes or hair, and a prepaid return — with 40,000+ drop-off locations across the USA.
Wear them close — and pass it on
Hallmarked and permanently sealed, the finished piece is made to be worn every day and handed down — any unused hair comes back to you with your order.
However you choose to keep it — a labeled envelope in a memory box, a frame beside a photograph, or a sealed piece of jewelry worn daily — a lock of hair is a keepsake that asks very little and holds a great deal. Store it well, take your time, and choose the form that feels most like them.
