The tassel (plural tassels) is a ball-shaped bunch of plaited hairs from which at one end protrudes a cord on which the tassel is hung, and which may have loose, dangling hairs at the other end.
Tassels are often used as decoration on hat bands, key rings and zipper pulls. Every tassel includes a horse hair knot. Knots cover areas where items are sewn or glued. They are decorative as well as functional.
The knot, sometimes called a button, also stops the braid from unraveling similar to a rubber band on a French braid.