Rosin and perspiration are both corrosive to the finish of the stick. Rosin also leaves an undesirable sticky residue. This can be avoided by using a soft cloth to wipe the stick after each use. In addition, avoiding impacts to any part of the stick is the best way to prevent damage, especially a delicate wood bow. Dropping the bow, hitting it against the stand, and other impacts to the stick may cause it to break. Young musicians should always remember that the bow is not to be used as a sword and should always be handled with great care. Also be aware of your surroundings and situations that could cause damage. Unfortunately, many accidents occur from leaving bows unattended on a music stand. Only a slight bump to the stand is enough to cause the bow to fall to the floor and break. The best way to avoid damage is to store your bow in its case properly by the bow holder when not being used.

Keeping the bow hair at proper tension during playing and storage can also prevent damage. When the hair is tightened, it exerts tension on the head of the stick. If this remains constant or becomes excessive, the head may break away from the stick. The bow becomes unusable in this condition. Loosening the bow when not in use and avoiding over-tightening can prevent this. Please refer to the pictures below to see the proper position in which the hair should appear when in a relaxed state, playing position, and over-tightened. In addition, maintaining the proper hair tension will also prevent the stick from warping.

Horsehair is the preferred material used for the ribbon of hair on instrument bows, although synthetic hair may be used for some inexpensive student bows. However, Southwest Strings only sells bows with horsehair. Touching the bow hair should be avoided. Oils and dirt from the fingers and hand will soil the hair and prevent it from holding rosin and grabbing the strings. Therefore, always handle the bow by the frog and bottom portion of the stick. In addition, the hair will eventually need replacing. A rehair is needed when the hair no longer grips the strings, loses rosin quickly, or loses hair.

The time between rehairs may be as little as three months for a professional player and as long as eighteen months for a beginner. This is considered general maintenance and is necessary to ensure the performance of your bow. You should take your bow to a professional luthier when the hair wears out.

Humidity will affect the length of the bow hair. During seasons of low humidity, the hair will shrink and exert more tension on the stick. As a result, the head may break away. Therefore, it is extremely important to properly loosen the bow hair to avoid breakage. If the bow hair will not loosen enough, longer hair may be needed and the bow should be rehaired by a luthier. During humid conditions, the bow hair will stretch. Although this doesn't affect the tension adversely on the head of the stick, it will lengthen the distance between the thumb leather and frog, causing this portion of the stick to wear down from contact by the thumb. This may affect the value of the bow. Like your instrument, the bow is also affected by temperature. Both cold and hot weather could cause the bow to warp and the head to snap. In addition, extreme heat may cause the varnish to melt. Bows should never be stored in a hot car or in direct sunlight.

Warping is a common problem of wood bows. This may occur from a variety of factors, including over-tightening the hair and environmental conditions. Depending on severity, it may be corrected by a professional luthier. However, the repair is usually only worth it for a fine bow. In addition, have a luthier fix any cracks and any other noticeable damage to the stick or frog.