diff --git a/Changelog.md b/Changelog.md
index b221875..579a7d9 100644
--- a/Changelog.md
+++ b/Changelog.md
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ Coming Soon
 - Create 'header structs' that can be converted into a `Header` and simplify working with headers in responses.
 - Use [loopback](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1122), [private](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1918), and [unique local](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4193) addresses for RealIp
 - Add is_informational, is_success, is_redirect, is_client_error, and is_server_error methods on status codes.
+- Use a Cow in HeaderName::Custom
 
 # 2.2.1
 
diff --git a/lib/proto/http/header/header_name.rs b/lib/proto/http/header/header_name.rs
index c579b99..7837a79 100644
--- a/lib/proto/http/header/header_name.rs
+++ b/lib/proto/http/header/header_name.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-use std::fmt::{self, Display};
+use std::{
+    borrow::Cow,
+    fmt::{self, Display},
+};
 
 use crate::internal::misc::filter_crlf;
 
@@ -22,7 +25,7 @@ macro_rules! headers {
             ),*,
             /// Custom header type.
             /// Only used when the header type is unknown to afire.
-            Custom(String),
+            Custom(Cow<'static, str>),
         }
 
         impl HeaderName {
@@ -30,9 +33,19 @@ macro_rules! headers {
                 use HeaderName::*;
                 match s.to_ascii_lowercase().as_str() {
                     $($header_lower => $name),*,
-                    _ => HeaderName::Custom(filter_crlf(s)),
+                    _ => HeaderName::Custom(Cow::Owned(filter_crlf(s))),
                 }
             }
+
+            /// A custom header name.
+            pub fn custom(s: impl Into<Cow<'static, str>>) -> Self {
+                HeaderName::Custom(s.into())
+            }
+
+            /// Create a custom header name from a static string.
+            pub const fn custom_str(s: &'static str) -> Self {
+                HeaderName::Custom(Cow::Borrowed(s))
+            }
         }
 
         impl Display for HeaderName {