Hair Hang Act

The hair hang is an aerial circus act where performers (usually young women) are suspended by their hair, and perform acrobatic poses and/or manipulation. Some believe the act originated in South America; others claim the act hails from China. Performers literally are hanging by their hair, which is tied into a hairhang rig; the techniques used to tie the performer's hair, and the acrobatic techniques involved in the act, are key.

Many people underestimate the tensile strength of hair. A single strand can potentially carry a weight of up to 100 grams; holding this in theory, and with proper technique, a full head of human hair could eventually hold between 5,600 kg and 8,400 kg (12,345-18518 lbs.), without breaking individual hairs or pulling out any follicles. That said, the act still hurts, especially for new performers.