Always loosen the hair on a bow after playing.
The best way to help a violin bow retain its shape is to loosen the bow after each use. If a bow is left with the hair fully tightened between uses, the tension can cause the bow to warp. Since the bow hair is affected by humidity (it can stretch or shrink), the head of the bow may snap if the hair shrinks while left tightened. A damaged bow can be straightened (recambered) by a skilled professional, but this can be expensive.
Instructions
1. Grasp the bow gently in your left hand, with screw facing your right hand.
2. Turn the screw counterclockwise to loosen the hair. The hair should be loose enough to touch the stick. Leaving the hair tighter than this may cause the tip of the bow to snap if dropped.
3. Place the bow in the violin case and leave it there to help avoid damage. Remember to keep the bow in the case until it has a chance to warm up to or cool down to room temperature. The case should never be left in direct sunlight or next to a heater; it should also never be locked in a car during extremely hot weather. Extreme heat or handling after sudden temperature changes may cause the bow to warp or snap.
4. Consider installing a case humidifier to help ensure that the violin and bow are kept in a controlled environment. Ideally, musical equipment should be kept in 40 to 60 percent humidity in a closed case. Storing the case in a room with a wall-mounted hygrometer and appropriately controlled humidifying or dehumidifying will also ensure that the bow and instrument have a long life.
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