Head shaving

Head shaving, or bald by choice, is the shaving of the hair from a person's head. People throughout history have shaved all or part of their heads for diverse reasons including aesthetics, convenience, culture, fashion, practicality, punishment, a rite of passage, religion, or style.

History

Early history

The earliest historical records describing head shaving are from ancient Mediterranean cultures such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome. In Rome, there was a custom to offer the hair from a person's first shaving to the gods, a practice that likely came from the Greeks. The Egyptian priest class ritualistically removed all hair from head to toe by plucking it.

Religious significance

Many Buddhists and Vaisnavas, especially Hare Krishnas, shave their heads. Some Hindu and most Buddhist monks and nuns shave their heads upon entering their order, and Buddhist monks and nuns in Korea have their heads shaved every 15 days. Muslim men have the choice of shaving their heads after performing the Umrah and Hajj, following the tradition of committing to Allah, but are not required to keep it permanently shaved.

As a symbol of subordination

Slavery

In many cultures throughout history, cutting or shaving the hair on men has been seen as a sign of subordination. In ancient Greece and much of Babylon, long hair was a symbol of economic and social power, while a shaved head was the sign of a slave.