Launch Recite Me assistive technology
An abstract composition of fragmented, dark grey and olive-green shapes scattered across a pale, geometric background. The shards vary in size and opacity, creating a textured, crystalline effect.

Art: Genius! A kaleidoscope made of crystallised human hair...

—
Date
6 June 2013

We’d forgive you for looking at this and going “ewwwww” because yes, you’re right, it’s disgusting. But it’s also genius. Dan Keeffe along with Amy Webster, Milly Bruce and Sam Part, have taken human hair and miraculously transformed it into crystals which have then been lovingly inserted into a kaleidoscope for your viewing pleasure. The results are, as you can imagine, pretty horrendously gross (think dandruff crossed with the inside of your shower drain plughole) but how good is that idea?! And kudos for those guys for getting some scientists involved, they’re always worth the trouble, those clever clogs.

Three small glass vials with white lids stand against a plain blue background. Each contains a different coloured powder and a label identifying it as “Crystallised Melanin” from “Blonde hair”, “Ginger Hair” and “Brown Hair”.
Above

Dan Keeffe: Crystallised Hair

A small glass vial containing a pinch of grey powder sits on a reflective surface. A pair of metal tweezers lies horizontally behind the bottle.
Above

Dan Keeffe: Crystallised Hair

A close-up of a textured surface covered in irregular, pale yellow flakes. The fragments are scattered across a muted grey background, creating a dense, organic pattern.
Above

Dan Keeffe: Crystallised Hair

An abstract composition of fragmented, mirrored shapes. Dark, textured organic patterns are reflected across the geometric surfaces against a bright white background.
Above

Dan Keeffe: Crystallised Hair

A close-up of a textured surface covered in irregular, pale yellow flakes. The fragments are scattered across a muted grey background, creating a dense, organic pattern.
Above

Dan Keeffe: Crystallised Hair

An abstract composition of mirrored, organic shapes in earthy brown and grey tones. The forms overlap and repeat across a pale, fragmented background.
Above

Dan Keeffe: Crystallised Hair

A row of small glass jars with white lids sits on a shelf. Several of the jars contain clumps of dark hair or small amounts of sediment.
Above

Dan Keeffe: Crystallised Hair

A small glass vial containing a pinch of grey powder stands on a reflective surface. A pair of metal tweezers lies beside it.
Above

Dan Keeffe: Crystallised Hair

Share Article

About the Author

Liv Siddall

—

Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

It's Nice That Newsletters

Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world.