Hairy belts

Hairon is a type of leather where short animal hairs have been left on the skin. The result is a material with a striking texture: the rough, hairy exterior forms the visible surface of the belt. In addition to genuine hairon belts, there are also belts where synthetic hairs have been applied to a leather (or faux leather) strip. The latter variant is often referred to as a "hair belt" or "belt with hair," but technically it is not hairon. The difference lies in the origin of the hairs: genuine hairon uses the natural animal coat, while synthetic variants mimic this with artificial hair. Both types are available as women's belts and men's belts, although prints and striking colors are more common in the women's segment.

What exactly is hairon?

Hairon is tanned leather from which the hairs have not been removed. The hairs remain attached to the leather as part of the same piece of hide. This distinguishes hairon from regular smooth leather, where the outer layer is finished without hair. Hairon is made from cowhide, but also from more exotic animal species. The hairs give the material a striking relief.

Real hair versus synthetic hair

With genuine hairon, the hairs are naturally on the skin. With synthetic variants, artificial hairs are glued or processed onto a backing. Synthetic belts with hair are generally cheaper and easier to produce in specific colors and prints, comparable to faux leather belts where the color is easier to control than with real leather. Genuine hairon has a more irregular texture due to the natural variation in the coat.

Prints and patterns

Hairon lends itself well to prints. Giraffe print, tiger print, and other animal prints are applied directly to the hair or are already present in the natural marking of the hide. In synthetic variants, the hairs are printed or dyed after production. The blue women's belt 3.5 cm leather/hairon with giraffe print (€ 29.95) and the women's belt brown leather/hairon 4 cm with giraffe print (€ 31.96) are examples of belts where a giraffe print has been applied to hairon.

Hairon in women's and men's belts

Striking prints and fashion colors appear more often in women's belts than in men's belts. This also applies to hairon: most hairon belts in the assortment are women's belts. Nevertheless, there are also men's belts in this material, such as the men's belt red leather (hairon) 3.5 cm with silver buckle (€ 29.95). That belt has a single color without a print, which aligns with the preference for basic colors in the men's segment.

Maintenance of hairon

Hairon requires different maintenance than smooth leather. Brush the hairs regularly in the direction of the grain to remove dirt. Do not use regular leather cream on the hair layer, as this can cause the hairs to clump together. The leather backing of the belt can be treated with a leather care product. Avoid prolonged exposure to moisture, as this can affect the adhesion of the hairs.