Long Hair in Native American Culture

The Cultural Significance of Long Hair

Many cultures around the world, from Native Americans to Sikhs, believe that hair has a special significance. We explore long hair in many cultures on this blog, but here in this post we look closer to home at long hair in Native American culture.

While each culture and belief is distinct, many are wonderfully similar. Cultural beliefs about our hair and how it can affect us go back as far as recorded history. Many ancient cultures believed there is power in uncut hair.

Native American cultures and beliefs vary widely between tribes and peoples, so rather than generalize all Native American culture we’ve pointed out some fascinating highlights across different cultures.

Photograph by Edward Curtis used to illustrate an exploration of long hair in Native American culture.

Heavy Shield - Tribe Blackfoot
Photographer: Edward Curtis
Taken from Library of Congress

Who Grows Long Hair?

Both men and women are encouraged to grow their hair. There are often special ceremonies for the first haircut, as in the coming-of-age ceremonies in Cree and Navajo traditions, but after that they let it grow.

There is also significance in the way the hair is worn. There is a way to wear and ornament the hair for many ceremonies and dances. For some Native Americans, braided hair signifies and reinforces the connection between their family, their tribe and the Earth.

For other Indigenous cultures, braided hair signifies unity with the infinite, while allowing the hair to flow freely represents the free flow of life.

Photograph by Edward Curtis used to illustrate an exploration of Native American long hair.

The Cheyenne Belle
Photographer: Edward Curtis
Taken from Library of Congress

Why Grow Long Hair?

Indigenous beliefs around long hair, as many of their beliefs, are tied to the earth and nature. Long hair has symbolic significance tying them to Mother Earth, whose long prairie grasses are representative of her hair.

It is believed that long hair in Native American culture is a physical manifestation of the growth of the spirit, and some say allows for extrasensory perception, physical strength and connection to all things.

Photograph by Edward Curtis used to illustrate an article on why Native Americans have long hair.

Nespilim man
Photographer: Edward Curtis
Taken from Library of Congress

What Does Cutting The Hair Signify?

Many tribes cut their hair when there is a death in the immediate family as an outward symbol of deep sadness, and a physical reminder of the loss. The cut hair represents the time with their loved one, which is over and gone, and the new growth is the life after.

The cutting of hair can also signify a separation from past actions or thoughts. When a Native American cuts their hair, the hair is treated with great respect. It may be placed into a flowing river, buried, or burned with sage or sweetgrass in a ceremonial way, but never “thrown away.”

Photograph by Edward Curtis used to illustrate an article on what does long hair symbolize in indigenous culture.

Quilcene boy
Photographer: Edward Curtis
Taken from Library of Congress

Long Hair and Superpowers

Samson notwithstanding, some Native American tribes believe that the hair is connected to the nervous system. That long hair reaches out like tentacles, and pulls energy and information from the world around us, like a biological antennae.

We’ve come across different versions of a story about the Vietnam war, where skilled Native American trackers were recruited for their abilities as scouts by the US Army. It’s said that after joining the Army and getting their military haircuts, they lost their powers and failed to perform in the field.

Whatever credit you give the story, the idea of feeling through your hair has merit. It’s certainly true that each hair creates a contact point with your scalp. And with long hair, those are thousands of extended touch points bringing in tactile sensory information from your surrounding environment. From that standpoint, the notion of “feeling the world” around us doesn’t seem far-fetched at all.

Photograph by Edward Curtis used to illustrate an article about long hair in indigenous culture.

Raven Blanket - Tribe Nez Percé
Photographer: Edward Curtis
Taken from Library of Congress