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Buddhist Haircut

DaozenDaozen Veteran
edited March 2011 in General Banter
After years of watching my receding hairline, i finally took the plunge and shaved my head!

Have to say, it feels great, and it's got me thinking ..

Why do monks shave their head? Does anyone know the origin of this practice?

My guesses:

> Convenience
> Humility (non-attachment to hair :)

Any other thoughts or experience in this area?

Comments

  • VincenziVincenzi Veteran
    edited March 2011
    buzz cut is the most convenient haircut; shaved takes too much time to call it convenient with a straight face.

    but I got bored of a buzz cut, and am now leaving my hair long.
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    After years of watching my receding hairline, i finally took the plunge and shaved my head!

    Have to say, it feels great, and it's got me thinking ..

    Why do monks shave their head? Does anyone know the origin of this practice?

    My guesses:

    > Convenience
    > Humility (non-attachment to hair :)

    Any other thoughts or experience in this area?
    Both. Back in the time of the Buddha, cleanliness too.

  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    Non-attachment to vanity, to worldly values, mainly.
  • blueberriespleaseblueberriesplease Explorer
    fuzzy wuzzy was a bear, fuzzy wuzzy had no hair
    fuzzy wuzzy was a monk--
    actualuzzy
  • fedaalisfedaalis
    Living at a monastery where a lot of new people come in, having a shaved head could also be for hygiene purposes too, i.e. to prevent lice.
  • StaticToyboxStaticToybox Veteran
    Utility, as well as letting go of vanity would be my guess.
  • DaozenDaozen Veteran
    Yeah, seems like a mixture of practicality and 'letting go' would be main reasons.

    Thanks all

  • Malachy12Malachy12
    hah! I'm a girl, but I always wished I could buzz my hair like my brother. How convenient! I envied Natalie Portman when she did the buzz. But then I thought, would people see me and think "ahh what a simple and convenient hairstyle. That girls not vain." or would they think "ahhh Nazi skinhead white supremacist chick! Run away!". I guess in our culture I might send a strange message. Maybe one day I'll just take the plunge! My hair is already short. But if I did buzz, I might have to answer endless questions as to why, unless I'm prepared to wear robes and pose as a nun :P
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    Sinead O'Connor, an Irish female singer and Womens' Rights activist, shaved her head. it made her look striking, and she said she did it as a symbol of defiance against women being expected to look beautiful and attractive.
    it would, to my mind, have had more impact if she'd also stopped wearing make-up....

    Go figure....:rolleyes:

    http://www.stars-celebrites.net/oconnor/oconnor-picture-3.jpg
  • TalismanTalisman Veteran
    Every time I get a haircut, I get it shorter and shorter. Eventually I'll be going for the buzz cut. Better bald than balding, imho. :orange:
  • YacababyYacababy
    I am a girl an I have buzzed my hair a few times. It was very relieving IMO. I guess I just figured it will grow back so why worry. I can see why the monks and nuns do it though. Hair can be both a distraction and unclean in some cases.
  • StaticToyboxStaticToybox Veteran
    I've been considering buzzing my hair, but I'm still too attached to my gorgeous long locks.
  • nanimonanimo
    To buzz or not to buzz,
    that is the question.

    Sounds almost shakespearean to me.

    I've often thought I'd like the idea of getting a buzzcut. So far though,I haven't done it. As time goes on however and my hairline recedes further and further back, the temptation gets harder and harder to resist.

    That said I'm sure shaving the head was for multiple practical reasons.

    1. A standing tradition for ascetics, holymen, and seekers of the time of the buddha.
    2. Cleanliness
    3. Ease of maintenance
    4. Renunciation of worldly concerns(hair vanity in this case).
  • ZaylZayl Veteran
    I just wear a buzzcut, because I feel convenience is sexy... plus it shows off my damn sexy jawline.

    ...but mostly convenience, of course.
  • DakiniDakini Veteran
    edited March 2011
    To buzz or not to buzz,
    that is the question.

    As time goes on however and my hairline recedes further and further back, the temptation gets harder and harder to resist.
    Receding hairlines aren't a big deal. Combine it with a bright, friendly smile, and you'll be irresistable! :) Personally, I'd like to outlaw the shaved head and the buzz cut. What is this, the new Puritanism? Hair is sensuous.
    buzz cut is the most convenient haircut; shaved takes too much time to call it convenient with a straight face.

    but I got bored of a buzz cut, and am now leaving my hair long.
    I'm with Vincenzi. Long hair is to die for!
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    One reason I think was to identify them as not being of another practice.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    Yes, for example, Hindus don't cut their hair short, though through knowing several personally, they do keep it mangeable and trim.....
  • lamaramadingdonglamaramadingdong Veteran
    It's done so your'e not mistaken for a Hairy Krishna...
    Daozen
  • ZaylZayl Veteran
    Well I used to have long hair, but my hair type does not work well with it. It looked good "shaggy" but once it got down to the middle of my back it was just enough. I had to spend about an hour every day just fussing with it, it takes more effort to take care of it. But I like my buzz cut, I don't have it for any religious or moral reasons, I just look damn good with one ;)
  • BonsaiDougBonsaiDoug Simply, on the path. Veteran
    Look here for some insight:

    Buddhist Monastic Code II
    Chapter 1
    Personal Grooming
    by
    Thanissaro Bhikkhu

    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc2/bmc2.ch01.html
  • Mr_SerenityMr_Serenity Veteran
    edited March 2011
    "The hair of the head should not be worn long. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing. I allow two-month (growth) or two fingerbreadths." — Cv.V.2.2

    Wow what nonsense lol. That would make sense if you were a monk though. Obviously shaved hair is practical if you live in poverty conditions.

    My facial features are like a mix of Native American/Hispanic/White. I have straight black hair. So I actually look the best with long hair just past the shoulder or till mid back. A short hair style really doesn't fit my face or my personality well. I would keep it short if it worked for me, but it doesn't.

    So I think it's wiser rather to question what is "Buddhist" to just question what would look best for you and your own face/body structure.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    Nobody is questioning what is "Buddhist".... the OP just wondered why Monks do it.
  • DeformedDeformed Veteran
    hah! I'm a girl, but I always wished I could buzz my hair like my brother. How convenient! I envied Natalie Portman when she did the buzz. But then I thought, would people see me and think "ahh what a simple and convenient hairstyle. That girls not vain." or would they think "ahhh Nazi skinhead white supremacist chick! Run away!". I guess in our culture I might send a strange message. Maybe one day I'll just take the plunge! My hair is already short. But if I did buzz, I might have to answer endless questions as to why, unless I'm prepared to wear robes and pose as a nun :P
    I would say you should do it, then.


  • ZaylZayl Veteran
    Yeah just go for a buzz, if anyone asks simply saying "because I felt like it" is usually a good enough of an explanation.
  • VincenziVincenzi Veteran
    shaved head isn't convenient... it takes more time to mantain than any other haircut.

    buzz cuts are much more convenient.
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