In undyed form, camel hair is light tan and with a soft nap. Fabrics that merely have this distinctive color cannot be correctly called camel hair. The best grade is very expensive, and even then, camel hair is sometimes mixed with sheep's wool or other fibers.

Fine wool-like coat of the two humped Bactrian camel. Fleece is collected as it falls off in clumps in Spring. Camel hair coats are especially warm, soft and light-weight.

Comes from camels, is wool like in texture, and the underhair is very soft and lustrous.

hair from the camel. Sometimes blended with wool or imitated in wool. Twill or plain weave. Underhair is best. It is light weight, lustrous and soft. It ranges from a light tan to a brownish-black colour. Usually left its natural tones but can be dyed-usually navy and some red. It has quite a long nap and is warm. Better grades are expensive. Sometimes blended with wool to reduce the cost and increase the wear. All wool camel hair is not as lustrous and is spongy. Can have either a rich nap or a flat finish. Wears fairly well, particuarly if blended.

Trade name for tail hair from various types of Russian squirrels. Used for lacquering brushes and lettering quills.

An old name for various soft-hair brushes—not actual camel's hair.

Camel hair is, variously, the hair of a camel; a type of cloth made from camel hair; or a substitute for authentic camel hair. When woven into haircloth, using the outer protective fur called guard hair, camel hair is coarse and inflexible. However, other varieties of camel hair cloth—especially those that blend camel hair with wool— or from the pure under coat are soft and plush.