That's Strange- Hairy Tales of Avanos

So, people like to obsess over their hair. Its a given considering the romantic references in literature or the series of hair products lining the supermarket and the amount of time and money people spend on their crowning glory. But Chez Galip’s Gallery in Avanos takes this love for hair to a whole new level. Say hello to the weirdest exhibit I’ve ever come across - The Avanos Hair Museum. Housing a collection of more than 16,000 locks of women hair in different colours, hanging loosely in varied lengths, this place definitely offers a strange sight.

During my recent trip to Turkey, I had Pamukkale and the cave-like city of Cappadocia on my list of the ‘out-of-the-world’ experiences. However, to my ignorance, I was proven wrong until someone mentioned, “Have you been to the Chez Galip’s Hair Museum?” and I was like, “Excuse me...”

 

The How, When & Where of it…

Located in an underground cave in Avanos (Cappadocia), previously known only for its ceramics and pottery made from the mineral-rich mud of the Red River, the hair museum is garnering a lot of limelight for this small town these days.

It all started in 1979 when Chez Galip, a skilled Turkish porter, decided upon this unique idea in order to increase enrolments for his pottery workshops. Little did he know then that the gallery would make it to the Guinness Book of World Records! But a little birdie told me another story. Legend is that once one of Chez’s dear friends was leaving him and he was very sad to see her go. So, the generous lady cut off a piece of her hair and gave it to him for remembrance. The potter being a true romantic decided to pin this lock of hair on the wall and started to share this story with his visitors. Touched by the tale, women started to leave a piece of their hair behind with him along with their names and contact details written on a card.

You can well imagine the flashes of a gazillion images that must have conjured up in my mind on how the museum would look like when I was on my way to Avanos. Believe me, when I finally entered the museum, I was completely blown away.

A Hair-Raising experience…

The rather small cave-like room was sprinkled with thousands of locks of hair attached to almost every surface except the floor. Long and short, black, blonde and brown; I spotted many types of tresses carefully pinned to the walls complete with the name and address cards. While I was slowly walking through, I recalled the last display wall I had seen at the Bubblegum Alley. Well, that one was bordering to gross while this one at the hair museum charmed me with its sheer romance! It truly is Chez’s marvel to create a place solely out of an expansive hair collection. The lifeless yet neatly-cut locks of hair are a sight to look at. Yes, bizarre but true. Standing at the museum, there was a moment when I felt a chill run down my spine as it reminded me of the hair-raising horror-flick, Ek Thi Daayan that I saw recently.

 

Ladies! Get Lucky…

I must admit that the proud owner really knows how to make your experience a special one. Every year, in the months of June and December, the first customer who arrives here is invited to the Hair Museum to choose ten hair strands off the walls. And the lucky ten to whom these strands belong receive a week-long vacation in Cappadocia, where apart from holidaying they also get to attend free pottery workshops with none other than Chez himself. I too left a lock of my hair behind hoping to receive a call, later this year (*wink wink*). Who knows, I bring you another weird tale from Turkey.

 

Back home, I introspected. Disturbing yet compelling, romantic yet funny, this experience took me through myriad emotions. How did it work for you?