Design of a multifunctional wooden hair accessory

Luca Venczel, Ferenc Sarka — Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +0200

The aim of this study is to present the design process of wooden, multifunctional hair ornaments from the initial concept through prototype production and testing. Hair ornaments are objects that simultaneously serve aesthetic and functional purposes for the wearer. The research begins with a historical and cultural overview, with particular emphasis on the meanings associated with hairstyles and animal motifs. During the design process, motifs from medieval Japanese and Viking cultures, as well as ancient Egyptian culture, inspired the forms. Based on the results of the motif research, freehand sketches and the CAD models derived from them are presented. The necessary modules of the Solid Edge 2024 software were used to create the models. Ergonomic considerations were taken into account to a great extent in the designed models, and their suitability was tested through FDM 3D printing. The hair accessory prototypes were produced using a computer-controlled milling machine and steam bending techniques. The results present an innovative product concept that, depending on the motif, can be used as a hair ornament and massage comb, while in another motif it can also function as a bracelet and hairband.

Design of Machines and Structures

Design of a multifunctional wooden hair accessory