The Special 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 strangely 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.
Who Grows Their Hair?
Both men and women are encouraged to grow their hair. There are often special ceremonies for the first haircut, but after that they let it grow.
There is also significance in the way the hair is worn. There is a way to wear the hair for many ceremonies and dances. For many Native Americans, braided hair signifies unity with the infinite, and allowing the hair to flow freely signifies the free flow of life.
Why Grow Long Hair?
Their beliefs around long hair, as many of their beliefs, are tied to the earth and nature. The long hair has symbolic significance tying them to mother earth whose hair is long grasses. It is believed that long hair in Native American culture is a physical manifestation of the growth of the spirit, and some say it allows for extrasensory perception, and connection to all things.
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 the 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 separating from past actions or thoughts. When a Native American cuts their hair, the hair is often treated with respect. It can be placed into a flowing river, buried, or burned.
Long Hair and Superpowers
Samson notwithstanding, some Native American tribes even 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, similar to a cat’s whiskers.
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 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 that far-fetched.
Long Hair In Native American Culture
These are just a few of the interesting cultures and beliefs we’ve come across. Dive a little deeper in this post, including videos of Native Americans describing the significance of their long hair.
We write this post with respect and appreciation for all cultures. If you have anything to add, please share in the comments or contact us directly.
Do you think your long hair increases your powers of perception? What other long hair cultures should we cover here? Share in the comments!
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Comments
The way George Catlin describes it, is that the long hair was more of a “come and get it” symbol. The longer your hair the more tempting it was for a enemy tribesman to come and scalp you to decorate his own clothing with. They ate a lot of bison and their horns are made of hair, growing a little bigger every year they aged. likely the act was transferred to the human to grow their own hair and simply tempted a scalper for the men
Low key longhair lifer George Carlin.
I am Metis, and didn’t get my hair cut until I was 5 and in residential school in Canada. Now at 40, I have finally decided to let my hair start growing again. Having long hair was always something that was a way that marked us as different from Canadian society, and one of the first things they took from us when they took us. Already I am feeling more connected with my ancestors and my identity feels more valid.
Recently connected with my Creek Indian, Wind Tribe, heritage at 47. I grew up military but had no clue how I was and am able to naturally and physically able do and think with the mindset I’ve always had. A true epiphany and the grandest of awakenings I’ve ever experienced. Four years ago I started growing my hair at the beginning of this awakening and have just now learned why I was compelled to. Amazing. Genetic memory and spiritual memory is real.
We are pumped for you, William. That is amazing. Keep lettin’ it ride.🤘
I love this sooo much!! I found it while looking for a book called Bear’s Braid! My two year old loves his long hair and will just about cry when someone says “when are you cutting it?”. we do have Cherokee ancestry and sadly I had no idea how important hair was! Looks like I’ll be doing more research and will continue to let him rock his long hair! Besides it matches his wild spirit!!
Awesome to hear BeezyW and great to have you here. Tell your little man we say WHAT UP!
I have 3 boys, 11, 5, and 3. I have let all 3 grow their hair until they decided to cut it. At around 9 years old, oldest came to me and told me he was ready. I asked him why and he said he was tired of people mistaking him for a girl . 😞 But I respected his decision and took him in. My two youngest are still growing out their hair and it is beautiful. But my youngest tonight asked me why his hair looked like a girl. I looked up men with long hair and behold…I came across your page. Mad props to you guys and now my boys have another avenue to turn to. 🙏🏽🙏🏽
So happy you found us Donna!
I’m native american and have 2 little boys who’s hair I have insisted on growing out. But due to my situation my boys had been taken by DCF and I’ve been fighting to get them back home, but the whole time they’ve been in their custody, they have been trying to get me to agree to them cutting my boys hair. I don’t know how long I can keep them from doing what they want because the people representing my kids is pushing for the hair cut. I’ve argued saying my decision was in honor of my ancestors and traditions. I told them I intended on letting my sons make the choice, once they’re old enough to understand a little bit, the significance and my reasons why. I felt it should be their choice and theirs alone whether or not to continue growing their hair and to embrace their heritage. I felt that it was important honor, and respect our ancestors and our traditions and heritage. And upon getting them back I wanted to go to north Carolina where my great grandmother came from and bring them to go visit the reservation to learn more about our heritage and maybe if possible enroll to be recognized as members of the Cherokee Nation. I’m very proud of my ancestors and heritage and I want them to feel pride in that as well. I don’t want social services to cut my boys hair especially right before they come home. How can I fight this in court and get the judge to see my side. I asked them to just put my son’s hair in a low braid instead of cutting it, he’s 3 and his hair is all the way down his back and my 2 year olds is almost shoulder length.
Amber, thank you for your message. I am sorry to hear about your situation. We’re rooting for your boys and for their long hair. We have the deepest respect for the significance of long hair in Native American culture. I would recommend seeking good counsel. Sending our thoughts your way.
I have long hair and I am Native american and I tend to not take care of my hair. I was going to see if you guys are going to help me so that I can do better than me not taking care of my hair.
Hey Chayton, thank you for your comment! We would be stoked to help you with your hair. Are there any questions in particular you have? Our blog has over 400 posts that you may search as well. Let us know🤘
I am Native American I come for Oklahoma. I love my hair but I just don’t do my hair right I am really mad that I can’t get my hair good and brushed good. I love my culture and trying my best to do good and make it stay alive.
Thank you for reading the blog and sharing your culture with us, Flacon. You can find hair brushing techniques and tips here: How To Brush Your Hair. Plus, you can try one of our awesome new hair brushes called “The Mane Hog” and “The Continental” if you are interested.
I have always loved my hair I hated getting haircuts. I have worn it long almost all my life. It is now salt and pepper but I have to say just the experience of having the balls to wear my hair without any fcks given has changed my life. Being a man wearing your hair long truly is a power and spiritual connection that you can’t explain only experience.
Amen to that, Jim! Confidence comes from our long manes, and you gotta LET IT RIDE, man! Have you seen our latest blog? The Best Thing About Having Long Hair
Thanks for sharing this article – very helpful; I also appreciate the camaraderie among those who have shared comments. My relationship with hair has been challenging. I have “red” hair, and my earliest (formative) memories around hair are troublesome. I’m very introverted and shy, yet throughout my childhood, I was all too often the target of unwanted attention because of the color of my hair: adult women would greet me with overwhelming enthusiasm, while schoolyard bullies teased and tortured me emotionally (jealous much?). This led to a crippling obsession during my teenage years: I would constantly worry about how my hair looked, because I had learned that it’s the first thing people notice about me. Fast-forward to my 40s, when the hairline began to recede and the hair began to thin, and I decided to start clipping it all off – a buzz cut – which I kept for more than a decade. For various reasons, mostly a social experiment and a test of my maturity, I decided in the Fall of 2019 to let it grow out, at least to the point at which it would all be shoulder length, to see what it would look like and observe the reaction from people around me. I’ve had several trims to allow the shorter sections to catch up, and it’s not quite there yet. My therapist has some Native American blood, and his hair is long, so we’ve had some conversations about this, and he’s been very supportive. I still struggle daily with self-consciousness about it, because it’s not thick and flowing like younger folks, but I am really trying to just let the experiment run its course, and maybe I’ll even find a reason to let it keep growing. Funny – most of my friends have said little or nothing about it; maybe they don’t like it and it makes them uncomfortable? Yet, some are thrilled with it. Confusing, but I’m really trying to let go of what everyone else thinks about me… Thanks for listening. Namaste.
Thank you for sharing your story, Daniel. It sounds like you’ve had a lot of ups and downs in your life and on your hair journey. When it comes to your friends not mentioning your hair, it reminds me of this: “People who mind don’t matter, and people who matter don’t mind”. Keep lettin’ ride! And know we back your long hair 100%.
I was given a Indian medicine staff but found by some one else in a house they was cleaning and was allowed to take it home so it was given to me as a gift is it bad news I am a native my self from the reservation
Awesome article, El Roob!
I do feel my long hair helps me feel one with Mother Nature, and more connected with this big beautiful Earth and in fact the living animals on it. And thank you for sharing that November is Native American Culture appreciation month! It’s always been my birth month and I’ve never known this! Despite that I’ve still always been fascinated with the Native American way of life and how they learned to live with the planet.
PS – Japanese Culture I have also always been extremely fascinated in, and now I have long hair it’s funny: Almost like it was destined to be👀 Maybe Samurai and the power they hold in their long hair would be a cool next topic!
JP
As someone with Celtic heritage (or should I say “hairitage,”) you should do an article on the Celts and hair. Hair was often a big part of Celtic culture. Both men and women wore their hair long and often put a lot of effort into it.
We, too, Japanese, have long hair warriors. Here is a video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPoLmHDcoRc. My hair is long, but I will NOT cut the side of my hair.
Okay, so…I have Native American blood in my family, but I’m not sure what tribe. I had a dream last night that I was in a Native American ritual and I was given a tuft of hair. It was a messy ball of hair and it wasn’t mine. I don’t know who’s it was. All night I had dreams of Native Americans, but I don’t remember any other specifics. Does anyone know anything about giving someone a tuft of hair in a ritual? It didn’t feel evil.
I don’t know Renee, but maybe someone here in the community will be able to help. Thanks for sharing!
I don’t know what I enjoyed more, the article or the many wonderful comments!
As a child I was overly controlled by parents. My mother sent me to have my hair cut routinely. I simply went with it. As I became an adult, I found I wanted long hair. Every time I had a relationship breakup, invariably I would cut it….still not sure why….now, in my later years I have no time to lose, I began to be true to MYSELF…and began to grow my hair out~~~~~~~ It is now 3 feet long from root to tip and I love it!!! I may never cut it as I feel so GOOD with it long. I find too, that I am more settled in my spirit and I do have Native blood from the Iroquois of New York State. It is of great interest to me to read all of your posts! I have a site on FB: Long Haired Silver Sisters…..come join us. Be well as we are all connected. Namaste.
I love the unity! I feel it is ok for other cultures to wear their hair, wheter braided or long), as long as it’s not in an inappropriate manner.
Our hair as Native and Mexican culture is truly connected by spirit and our culture. This does not mean we get to control a person’s choice of how they wear there hair. Much love~WeareOne in Spirit 💚
Both of my childhood Cat’s just passed away on Saturday and I’ve been slowly integrating into the Native practices that I can and I want to cut my hair for them, I was wondering how short I should cut it (its about shoulder lenght now) and I was wondering if I should wait until their passing anniversary so I could let go more for them? If you could please help me with those questions it would be greatly appreciated.
I also have no Native blood but I believe in the Native way’s.
Sad to hear about your felines Joey. Hope they’re chasing string in kitty heaven!
This article and the comments make so much sense. I am not Native American but from Europe, Slavic origin. But for some reason since childhood I got really sad when I was pushed to cut my hair. I also didn’t like the fact other people doing it. So at 10 I was big enough to resist it and 11 years later when my best friend died I made a pony tail and cut it. It felt as something I had to do and thought that everybody will see I was somehow wounded. But they didn’t. After that I had a feeling I am standing between two worlds. That my friends death cut the barrier between worlds. And I had distinguished feeling looking at the world and it was cracked with force thundering through it. And I had a dream. I walked through the desert and a Native American was there. He had a fire and some objects that looked like figurines beside him. “I have been waiting for you.” he said. He performed a ceremony and a woman with darker complexion and long black hair was suddenly beside me. We held hands. He said: a dear, a sun and a name ( I don’t feel l can write it here). Than I woke up. Somehow since than I got to enter the door of my inner self and was able to live it. It’s like, the room was always inside me but I didn’t have the conscious connection to it until than.
I still cut my hair in times of great loss and I always do it myself. And when joy returns I let it grow again and return to the world.
Thank you for writing the article. With my love
Ajda
Gosh
… Its june 10, 2021 now and it’s Thursday.. on Monday we have a photoshoot in school but they said no long hair is allowed in boy or they will not take a pic of me
Im so troubled if im gonna cut it or not
Part of me say yes and the majority doesn’t want to
Im 16 & im in 4th year highschool
My last cut of hair is February 12, 2020
So its long now and its the longest time i didnt cut it.. i feel happy especially when i washed it again lol ite refreshing
I have black hair and im asian.. (filipino)
And idk why im here Lol
And i have a lot of pictures of my hair because like documentary lol
Oh my gosh i dont wanna cut it..
Don’t do it man!! If your spirit tells you not to don’t!! I have made this mistake myself because of my career and pressure from management. Never again. I will cut my hair when I feel it is time and grow it just the same. Your spirit will tell you when
If you don’t “feel it” then you shouldn’t do it. If you’re school is so set on making you feel guilty for your not wanting to change who you are just for the sake of a picture ,and might I add a picture of who you aren’t instead of who you wana be, then I would take some time out and deep thought into wether or not you’re in the place you should be anyway. Just saying ,🤔
Honey… I am wondering how this all worked out for you and if you ended up cutting your hair or not? I’m a Native, both Taino and a NY Mohawk. The other question I had for you, was what was your parents opinion on this when it came to this school’s policy? Did they fight this against the school board? IT IS a discriminatory policy just so you and your parents know ok? I’M an international prisoner and human rights advocate for OVER 35 yrs. Just see you’re aware also, you can file something against the DOE, Dept of Education. It’s an appeal against their decision and it’s called an ARTICLE 78. An article 78 is an appeal that you can file against ANY ADMINISTRATIVE BODY in this country. Depending on your family’s finances, you can also file this for free in court. You file it under a poor persons status~that status is called a PAUPERUS MOTION. Now if you file it into court under that status, your parents may have to prove they CANNOT afford the filing fees. I believe it’s $100 initially, and the court MAY AUTOMATICALLY refuse it. Then when you file again they try to hit you up for $300. THAT’S to purposely deter people from putting this filing in against an entity. YUP! I go to this all the time when it comes to jails and prisons. I deal with every level of the system, from my juvies to people on Death Row. So if your family feels that this is part of their culture, or part of your religious beliefs in some way? THEN they can use this filing in court… I hope you understand how this schools policy was constitutes as a violation of your human and civil rights under the US Constitution. If this is part of your culture, or religious beliefs to keep your hair long? THEN THEY ARE denying you the right to your freedom of religion. IF you need help with this there ARE places that can give you free counsel. You can contact the Southern Poverty Law Center. There is also an Asian law activist group which I cannot remember the name of right now. I’m sorry about that because there’s several that I deal with. I’m not sure where you’re located but I’m on Long Island New York. So I deal with quite a lot that are on Long Island and in NYC, I can’t remember all of their names, but they are some of the hard hitters over here. Also you can contact the AFSC, American friends Service Committee. They have several branches throughout the country, they combine state groupings. So you have to see WHICH section you fall under your state falls under. The AFSC is the first human rights organization in the country, but it is now International. They deal with every level civil rights, human rights. Constitutional rights, advocacy groups, the UN. All their people are either pro bono or free when it comes to their services. I’ve dealt with them roughly 15 yrs to the NYC office in Manhattan. I just want to make you aware of this because this is nothing new and there’s a violation of your rights. I strongly suggest that your parents look into this option even if you have cut your hair already. I say this because this policy needs to be ended when it comes to other children after you graduate. Please let me know how this worked out for you ok?
I have lost 5kids 2grand parents and a few dear friends within 10years. It always felt like keeping my hair very long ment keeping them very close to me. Until this morning when i v realised that grief is me second skin and there has to be a change. Spontaneously i v cut my hair. From hip length to sholder length . And it feels like a new drop of freedom from grief. I v always found hair cuts to be heart breaking but right now i feel nothing short from “Yey – out with the old drama, in with a new more mature ,me” . It feels right . The cut hair was and engraved in it so much pain and it feels like i v let go of that pain.
Fair enough i will need a professional to make it absolutely straight but even that thought of having someone cut a tad more, feels right.
And then i v read the bit relating to cutting the hair after a death in the family -and then respect the cut bit.
It feels even more Right!
Feel free to reply if you wish
I have been a nurse for many years and would often ( especially cancer patients ) would have my patients tell me their hair hurt, I chalked it up to their head hurt. I then contracted Lymes disease and my hair hurt ..oh let me tell you it is real. After healing from the disease I guess I have not felt the sensation of my hair unless I’m outside and the wind is blowing it then I feel my hair.
My father in law passed last Wednesday at age 82 and I was pretty close to him so I cut about 4 inches off my hair. My now ex husband is dying of stage 4 colon cancer and is in hospice. Yes we are divorced because he had an affair and wanted one. He hurt me to the core. I was mad for a long time but that has passed and I have forgiven him. I still love him. I gave him 32 years of my life and a beautiful son so when he passes which is going to be soon I fear I will cut my hair more. I do have native blood just not sure what tribe. Am I doing right??
I have a question, would it be considered cultural appropriation for a non-native to grow out their hair for the same reasons as native americans do? And cut it for the same reasons as well?
As a native i say no as long as you’re following the same reasoning
Hello sorry to bother everyone I just have a question, I have native blood in my family but my closest friend to me he was like a brother just passed away and I keep getting the feeling I need to cut my hair and leave it with him is this normal, please and thank you
Yes it is very normal. When my grandfather passed all us women in the family braided and cut our hair wrapped it around sage and had it cremated with my grandfather.
If you feel this way, then yes. Absolutely. My tribe doesn’t cut our hair for a year after the death of a loved one, and other tribes cut it immediately after the passing of a loved one. Do you know your tribal connection?
What was the Significance of some tribes, SCALPING their victims?
Great question. I don’t know the answer but it’s something we need to learn more about!
The white man started that when the government offered payment for every indian they killed. In order to prove they had killed, they scalped to show proof. Natives began doing it in return.
Jon, during the time when the French still had influence over the northern American Great Plains, they introduced scalping for bounties. The way to tell the person was dead (living people don’t generally like getting scalped) was to remove the scalp, if the hair was long, and generally black, it was easy to identify as (most likely) being the scalp of a Lakota. Natives did this in originally in retaliation, than when it spread as a fear tactic. Humans have deployed psychological warfare for millennia. From a siege blowing horns to keep inhabitants awake, to sending the heads of your defeated soldiers over your walls via catapult, to desecration of bodies.
Scalping was not introduced by Native Americans , it was introduced by white men for proof of the the killing of a soldier of their enemy, the scalp was presented to receive payment for that killing.
Spottedtail, I see the confusion. I thought it was simply implied that scalping was from the French. Looking back at my previous comment, I realize that the way I wrote it made it seem like it was the Lakota who started the practice. Just to reiterate, it was indeed the French who paid for bounties on Lakota scalps.
I have suix and crow Indian. My dad passed four years ago February 2. I grow my hair out for a year and then cut it after his death day. My hair was long when he passed and I have kind of made it a tradition to do it once a year since not realizing it is a custom in Native American tradition. So it must be in coded in my DNA??
Interesting Amanda, thank you for sharing. Maybe it is coded in your DNA…
Hey Trent
I’m sorry for your loss!
If your intuition is telling you something you always gotta listen, even if you think it’s odd. Intuition is one of the strongest powers we as humans have, so we have to cherish it!
When my significant other, my love, passed away, I cut my hair. Then I dyed it . He loved my long silver hair. But I knew my hair hair had to go. I’m so sad.Nita
Yes, completely normal. Please research ceremonial burning of your hair
Very normal
Even though I have read about boys banned from school, and realize that school administrators in rural Texas are generally stuck in the 50s, this item about a Native American boy is still sad nevertheless. I found him on a long hair website, was five, and wore long, beautifully epic braids. Unfortunately, his parents had to choose for him between school and his culture. To all the Oyaté parents facing a similar situation with your sons, let them continue to embrace, honor, and respect their traditions and heritage, and yours as well, even if it means that nobody accepts them and they are home schooled. Do not let the fools stuck in the Eisenhower era take away any part of their culture; instead they should flaunt it proudly and defiantly. The boys should keep rocking their beautiful, beautiful braids for life. A’ho!
This is a good thing you do here!
I am longhair Eagle Warrior-
I came to your web page searching for an answer-
Why trusting my intuition is power like no other-
While reading the comments of your guest and brothers-
It was reveled to me-
I feel confident and understand the great wisdom of my ancestors-
When I trust myself through my first instinct-
Thank you for being here for us all!
Thank you man. We are proud to have you here.
I was in a phone store yesterdayand a tall man with black ling braided hair turned around and gave me a few second eye to eye contact.
I have long hair myself.
And have been told my aura is white light and turquoise.
Did he notice me with his back turned towards me. I believe so !
Fascinating information & thoughts shared here. Without even knowing why, I’ve always “shorn” my locks during times of deep grief (like now – having just lost my fur baby of many years) & great change. I may not have NorthAm Native genes, but my Indigenous relatives & friends easily see my deep-seated “witchy”/spiritual connections to Gaia, the Spirits & the animals that roam this planet – now & in the past. Always saw spirit animals & occasional human & ?? ones since birth. Guess this could explain why my hair was always cut short by my religious mother (and I was mistakenly called “Jamie” by the neighbour kids when young).
The important thing, to me, is that we respect & cherish ourselves, each other, and everything/one on this planet & beyond as we are ALL connected. Hugs & respect to all.
Respect & cherish ourselves! We ARE all connected! Thank you Jane!
The older I get, the more I believe that I am not an American but a Scandinavian who was born and raised here, whereas the people who are the main focus of this article are the true Americans, and those of them who embrace, preserve, and carry on their traditions and heritage are among the most beautiful people in the United States. Aho!
I’m cutting my hair in mourning. I appreciate your guys’ thoughts on the matter. Took me 4 years to grow it. But I think I want to do it as a reminder of how much everything has to start over.
May you find strength in your grief, Jarrod, and new beginnings.
I have a hidden tattoo and my mother had a bad dream about it. She didn’t know of the tattoo. I think I’ll cut my hair as a sign of resentment and moving forward
I have attending many funerals this year, 2020. One was a dear mentor, training me to take his place in many volunteer programs. During a funeral for a very nice man, a rock in his universe, I felt a need to cut my hair. I know many people will just assume it is a fashion change. I wear my hair nature all my life. In additional to cutting the hair, I vision changing it to a deep red?! I do feel my hair connects me to the world around me and allows me to be more effective to needs of others. I fear of becoming disconnected. My husband has asked that we change our living habits. Starting more exercise and better planning of meals. Maybe this drastic hair change will help me break for the old habits.
I commend you for the perhaps difficult decision that you made regarding cutting your hair. As you already know new changes and fresh beginnings will spring forth once again. A’ho
The most beautiful girl in the world is from South Africa and she keeps short hair. Ugh talking about power yet??
Depending on that girl’s past and current life, remember that maybe she may be trying to disconmect, from her world, for unknown reasons, to you. My best friend is from there. It is a hard life for women there. I just cut my long, beautiful hair off. I felt pulled to do it. I didn’t know why, exactly
I just knew, it needed to be done. Right now, after cutting it all off, and feeling better for it, I understand why. I have dreams of doing it. I lost my favorite, best friend uncle. My fater. Then, a best friend. All within the past 3 months. I am 1/16th Native American. I did it. Then, researchered. Makes it All make sense.
Wishing you peace, Adrienne.
In my youth I had long beautiful hair. After having my first child I chopped it real short because it felt natural and the right next thing for me to do. Looking back it represented my initiation and step forward into womanhood and motherhood. Chopping off the old hair was like chopping off my youth and the past choices I no longer wanted to carry. Over the years I grew it out and cut it and and was always content with my hair because I just let it grow organically and rarely applied any chemicals or products to it … until I entered a Karmic soulmate relationship that would change my entire existence. It was a dark and toxic relationship I endured and as of right now a few months post breakup my hair is about armpits length and artificially colored black. I colored it dark once just to change it up from my natural brown hue and since then I could never get it lighter with at home treatments. It’s taken me a painful year of attempts to breaking it off with the guy and realizing that my whole self esteem got shot way down during my time with him. All the money and energy I put into the relationship I can finally put back into myself and I will finally be getting some much needed help by a professional who understands my deep desire to refresh and reset my hair to as natural as possible. We plan to cut off enough to collarbone length and get it looking brown again…to match my brown eyes. I’ve been wanting to grow it out long but it has changed dramatically since the birth of my child so I’m doing my best to care and love it as best I can while I train myself to love and care for myself as best as I can as I rebuild a whole new life and existence for myself and daughter. I’m excited for my transformation now that the battle is finally over with the guy. I am ready for change and ready to release the old and darkness. As far as my gifts… I can honestly say since having my child and deciding to breakup with the guy my senses and gifts are heightened. Because I Believe I set the intention for my intuition to be stronger and practice being with my soul and higher self everyday. I do believe I will feel much more invigorated after my hair appt next week and my gifts of knowing and visions will only get stronger as will my esteem and confidence. In mind, body, heart and soul I believe I will be lighter and brighter.
Heck yeah!
“In mind, body, heart and soul I believe I will be lighter and brighter.”
Thanks for sharing, wishing you well.
It takes a physically strong man to wear long hair. Tell me, what does it mean when he shows his hair to a woman?
There is a Rastafarian practice or belief is that his head is to be covered by a turban of sorts and the only person that is to be allowed to see his locks is his woman (wife).
What doses if mean when a woman wears the hair braid on left side of head ? Thanks
Long hair gives me a headache, neck ache, oily face, and it knots so easy around my neck. I feel tired and lethargic even depressed with long hair. When my hair is short (bob to chin with shag layers) then I feel energized and creative and full of life. Maybe because my genes are of northern/eastern hemisphere. Maybe because I was born under Aquarius sun Leo moon which is air & fire sign. I don’t know but it would be interesting why some spiritual practices shave head and some do not. It is our responsibility to connect heaven and earth with our hair and bodily energy systems. Do we each take our part in that through grooming styles? I love my long hair and love how it looks but I feel so bad with it. Am I supposed to ? No. That is just ego. So I keep it short-shag-style and do my job here on earth for heaven to unite and the universe to be balanced. Right?
Definitely!!!
I keep my knee length braids in honor of the ancestors and for those whom had their hair cut in the residential schools.
Aboriginal blood will never be silenced!
I have more questions and comments for me it seems that I’m honoring God by keeping my hair long and for me it’s a spiritual mean I can’t seem to back this up but anything I can find in the Bible short of the story of Samson I have found it in other religions and in the Native American culture that I’ve read in this article I haven’t cut my hair for 12 years and it doesn’t seem that I intend to soon I found that there is a certain amount of discrimination that I run into from time to time and pre-judgment by the length of my hair and not by my own personality and what’s inside so for me it’s a way of somehow determining what peoples intentions might be in their sincerity if I’m being judged barely by my hair what sort of person am I dealing with a narrowminded one in my view thanks for all your interesting commentsOh my best so are you from Montana
I understand. My mom harped on me as I turned 20 and married that it was time for my to start wearing my hair short. I have kept my hair long, below my shoulders even during my 20+ years in the Army. I would wear it up anytime I visited my folks. My dad liked it long. Anytime it was just him and I would let it down. Upon visiting mother in the hospital, I made the deal with her to cut my hair when she was discharged. I had received a call that if I wanted to visit and tell her good bye I needed to come. (I had not the understanding the doctors has just brought her in from placing a pacemaker. ) She was discharged the next morning. Within the hour of being home she called her hair stylist. That afternoon I was sitting in a chair having 24 inches of hair cutoff. My God played a trick on my mother, who always had to perm her hair. My hair is curly. As the lady cut it at my shoulders, it curled up and was 3 inches shorter than planned. My mother found she did not like my new short hair.
Thank you for sharing Becky!
Respect!
Thank you , my Grandmother was one of those children.
I like that you do it in honor of the ancestors and for those who were oppressed while in the residential schools
Amen! Aho!
Tradition is extremely important, and so is honoring our present; how things feel to you in this very moment. Integrating and weaving both the past and present together, to create the now. Not solely focused on how things were, as this is not honoring the journey of time and life. Honor how you feel. Borrow the guidance from the past through your own truth.
Love It,How You Expressed Your Thoughts And Perception Of The Present And Personal Growth Within Your Own Intuitions.. 💜❤
Vikings: King Harold Fairhair.
Hell yes!
Harald Harfagre. Ja!
As a proud Native American I appreciate this article about our culture and beliefs. The hair on our bodies is part of the nervous system, the hair on our heads is believed to be linked directly to the pineal gland. The stories of Natives being used in Vietnam are true along with the fact that they lost their tracking abilities due to their hair being cut off. Thank you Longhairs for touching on this subject and for everything you guys do for others. You guys are the perfect example of how a business should behave. I tell people about you guys and your products every chance I can just to spread the positive vibes.
Yo Brett! Very happy to read your comment, I especially appreciate you saying we’re an “example of how a business should be.” We try to be.
Thanks for hangin with us and spreading the word about The Longhairs!
Wow. I love that I have stumbled upon this article. My great grandmother’s father was native American and migrated to Australia before she was born. So I’ve always grown up with the stories and knowledge that native American blood does run in our family, yet I don’t know the details or areas and tribes. 😭Does the gene throwback at all?
As 2 of my aunties, one of my cousin’s and myself truly appear to have scooped up alot of native American genetics… anyway, I’ve had a massive affinity with the culture growing up, pretty much teaching myself things intuitively. Long hair being one of them. I always had hair down to my hips in my late primary – early teens. It just felt right, no other way to explain it. I became known as the girl with dead straight dark hair. I think I questioned the fact it made me feel like an outsider at school so I chopped it off, blonde streaks to eventually going full platinum blonde in my late teens with hair that was Chin length. A complete 180 change. It was strange, I immediately felt so lost and like I had no control over my life, ‘powers’ that I didn’t even notice having when my hair was long were now gone and I really noticed the lack of their presence. Something as simple as being able to walk into a room and read and feel people’s energies, what people are thinking/feeling. My connection to nature, I no longer felt safe in nature after what I did to my hair. Anyway, a few years of trying to compensate with hair extensions (someone else’s actual hair attached 24/7 to my head) made things even worse. Yes I could look in the mirror and and satisfy my ego as I had the ‘long hair look’ back. But it was my soul I could feel was not right. If anything I think my intuition and so many other aspects became worse as I had another persons DNA attached to my DNA. Makes me queezy to think about.
Anywho, I realised one day I had to accept my short hair as it was without the hair extensions and start the journey of getting my hair back. This was after a lot of self reflection & meditation…Piecing it all together to realise how sacred my long hair was to me. So, I had one big trim in Jan 2013 back to Chin length. The hair dresser told me if I wanted to grow it I should get it trimmed every 6-8 weeks, and I vowed to myself that I would do so. Well life kept getting in the way, everytime I realised, ‘crap I need to get a trim.’ a little voice in my head or just a feeling told me, nooooooooo, just let it grow. So I did just that. After growing it for almost 18 months, in May 2015 my father was killed in a tragic accident. This is where it gets interesting for me since reading your article. I remember being at home and alot of people hassling me about getting a hair cut for the funeral etc. I was livid, my dad was the only one who always thought my long straight brown hair was perfect and to never do a thing to it. So ofcourse I wasn’t going to cut it for his funeral!! Then I got deeper and deeper and I just thought to myself if I cut my hair off for dad’s funeral then it is like I am cutting off hair from when he existed on this earth plane. And I realised that all the energy from the last hugs and chats spent with my dad are contained in my hair and with me all the time. They help guide me, they help me be close to him. So then and there I decided to never cut my hair. So, it’s been 5 and a half years since I had a haircut. My hair is past my bottom, its’ very thin uneven ends whisp at my mid thigh. In this 5 years my intuition, physic abilities, empathy, connection to nature, understanding of spirit, creation & the universe has just continued to rapidly build itself. I feel so powerful with my hair. I find myself constantly ‘downloading’ information through my hair. I find it interesting that I chose the opposite of what I probably should have done when my dad died. Thank you for teaching me that. But now, all my family (even strangers) ofcourse always tell me I should cut 30cm off. It literally makes me cry the thought of it, that’s probably the whole length of hair that contains any of my dad’s last energy. It’s also almost impossible to explain to people why ive let it grow this long and why I don’t believe in cutting it. Sometimes I allow my ego to feel hurt and isolated as my hair does not have a place in modern society where it is appreciated and I feel the pressure to conform and cut my hair so people don’t think I’m a freak. But then I remember how much power it gives me and the fear of losing all that is enough for me to keep living with this crazy inconvenient, yet crazy powerful and majestic mane of hair.
Thank you so much for writing this article and allowing a space to comment. It felt very cathartic writing this..💕💕
Erika,
I was so happy to read your story, which lends evidence to the power of long hair. Thank you for sharing, please come back and comment again.
It seems simple, but ultimately, the only person’s opinion that should matter to you is yours. I caved many years ago, and continue to due to history and toxic opinions of others who supposedly are most important to you. I am coming to the conclusion that I shouldn’t have cut my hair, but the S.O.(can’t call her the w word any more)
trust your heart always.
LJC
Hi Brooke, I loved your open and honest response and so much of what you said made sense to me. I am of Celtic heritage and dont cope well in the heat in Australia so have often cut my hair, however I never feel completely right in my skin with short hair, so now I am growing it long again and will keep it so. Being aware and connected to my environment ,nature is vitally important to me and it makes me feel more connected to spirit to have long hair. Thanks again ,I really appreciated your honesty and truth. with best wishes Tracy
Leave it long as you are able to understand many things others cannot
I’m glad that I found this site. It’s a long story, but I’m adopted and just recently learned that my birth mother was Native American of the Arapahoe tribe. Unfortunately, she has passed away. As a 39 year old woman, I never felt as if I belong anywhere, so I’m trying to learn everything about where I came from. As pertaining to long hair, I have always kept my hair very long, even now – I am lucky enough to still have thick beautiful hair, It may not be a popular style but I won’t change it. I have always been attracted to men with long hair, to me it is very masculine, and natural. I truly believe there is a spiritual reason that I feel so attached to my long hair, especially after learning about my heritage. It hasn’t been easy trying to connect with other Native Americans, I honestly don’t even know where to start. So, any advice is more than welcome.
Loved reading this.
Positive vibes, bro!
Hi, would you guys mind giving credit to the photos you use in this article? Who are these people you randomly posted? Who took these pictures? Do you have permission to do so? Are you just appropriating their images for your blog?
Thank you
Hello Alexandra. Thanks for asking. We have paid a license fee to use these images on our blog and are not required to give credit. So yes we have permission to do so. If you are interested in licensing similar images to these yourself you can find them at the following links:
https://stock.adobe.com/images/indian-at-sunset/74099156
https://stock.adobe.com/images/native-american-man-in-sepia/71961633
I wish I could grow some long hair! Chemo messed me up for life with thin hair. Really don’t understand what this website is about??? Or really how I found it??. I’m assuming it’s about things to pull your hair up with??? Lol?
Happy you found us Barbara! We are a community for men with long hair and yes we do make products that hold your hair up. There is a lot of fun stuff for women here as well, entertainment at the very least. Make sure to check out our charity event that we are hosting. Being a cancer survivor I think you will find it a worthy cause. You can read about it here https://thegreatcut.us
I am a long hair. I have Blackfeet from my fathers side and Cherokee and Celtic from my mothers. After I got out of the Navy I let my.hair grow shoulder length. Got married, got divorced……….let it grow.
I look at people through the same eyes with short or long hair on me…….they look the same, buy people look me differant with it long. So I have discovered, hair length doesn’t change the man, just the way people see him.
We are the last discrimination. Not a race or religious, gender issue. For women its a choice and they are accepted either way. For men, it tells them I am my own master and there are many who know we bow to no man except God.
I am Ojibwe and Onieda with Celtic on my dads side. It’s good to know there are still real men left in this world. Thank you for sharing.
My hair when braided is a symbol
of how I want to live my life. I braid my core values into each other to unify them. When I wear my hair down, it’s big, curly and long which reminds me to continue to be natural and youthful….. my hair helps me to remember, which helps strengthen me🧡💚💛💙💜🖤
I’ve thought of my hair like this for many years never really knowing why, but it was a great lesson for me and still is.
As I’m learning more about my roots and learning the significance of hair, this connection makes sense and feels good!
🙂 🙂 🙂
I dont understand..those it mean .keeping hair is powerful?
Long hair power, short hair weakness= BS. It’s a matter of cleanliness. USMC/Vietnam 68-69.
Why u gotta say cleanliness is short hair? Don’t be afraid of different cultures and don’t be honed in on the program that you were drilled into your brain by other like minded individuals. The whole Vietnam war should show you that there is 2 or more ways of thinking about everything. This blog is for empowerment not belittling. If you just want to be closed minded keep it closed!
I was a Marine in Vietnam and the account of Native American “trackers” losing ability because they cut their hair is BS.
Glad to have you here Tom.
I have had long hair for many years. I grew it out for 3 years and cut it when my wife passed away in 2000. I noticed that I lost much of my awareness of what was around me and did not have insight into the people I was with. These abilities returned after my hair grew back out about 6″. Other than trimming about 1 inch every year I have not cut it since. It’s now longer than it ever has been and I always feel very connected to the energies around me.
Thanks for sharing David, glad to have you here.
I have had increased dreams and visions while my hair is long
Same here man.
I wear wigs, because I have bad hair, my wigs are made from hair of every race of people on earth. Except native Americans. I was wondering why, when I came across this blog post. In many countries, even in Europe, women sell their hair when they need extra money. Good quality hair is highly prized, European, Russian, Vietnamese, maylasian, Brazilian, Peruvian ( the only native group from the Americas) Chinese, Indian ( from India), Cambodian, the list goes on, But no native North American hair. Could this be because of traditional beliefs?
Mines more of a question than a statement… Why do some women (from many different cultures and backgrounds) do “hair wraps”?! Not to be confused with a “head wrap”… meaning tying on brightly colored hemp, twine, rope, or even string, often I’ve seen with beads as well!? What’s the significance or meaning behind it?! Where did it start?!
My hair was long through high school and up until I went in the army. When I finished my tour, I left it alone save for an occasional trim. For the next 25 years it was long. I was conned into a trim one day in 2000 and most of it was loped off. In 2014 I announced I would not cut or have it cut again.
Now at 66 years of age, there are a few gray ones that I call battle scars. I am extremely happy with it and I feel better inside with it long than I ever did while it was short.
I too connect with the earth via my mother, Aztec is in my blood.
I been grown my hair and because I have I feel in powered I enjoy when the wind blows it it connect me to earth and most importantly protects my head .l
Same here HP!
I always found that grades were better with long hair than with short hair. Plus I find that long hair is more honest and who people really are. Have always cut hair once a year, now that I am 48 I have decided not to get it cut anymore. Interested in finding out how to tie hair as I have never done so.
What a beautiful submission. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you Lin!
Very interesting story about the cutting of the hair!
What is the proper thing to do with the cut off braid when a Close family member dies?
I just recently cut the back of my hair in honor of losing my mom,,, I always wore it long in back, it wasn’t cut nor even trimmed, I’m of native American decent, of the Ojibway nation out here in Minnesota..
I have recently began trying to reconnect with my spirituality. The first step was spebding more time out in nature. And secondly growing my hair back out whist has been difficult as I am active duty but that is to Admiral bell i have been granted a religious accomodation and I am no longer required to trim it.
I am roaming wolf known to many as a person who falls traditional ways and I was taught that are hair symbolizes a form of our pride and the only time you set aside your pride is through death or dishonor. The closer we feel to Mother Earth and the closer we feel to being natural the more our pride Grows with our hair.
Each time someone passes in my family or dishonor has been placed upon my circle that’s the only time I cut my hair and recently the state has taken my children from my ex and so they ask for my permission to have their hairs cut I hope they don’t dishonor my request for them to be able to keep their pride. I am proud of the Heritage I belong to and I am proud to try to keep the Traditions alive as long as I can, but however I feel that white man has not given up the discrimination against our people and I fear that they will cut my children’s hair anyways or they will take my rights as a father away. They have also put them into churches and Christian events and I have asked them nicely and have explained to them that I am not a Christian I am true natural ways of the old traditions of our people and I asked that my children not be imposed the Christian beliefs not without my approval because if my children can come to me and ask me, then I can give them my blessings for making a choice of Their Own but I would have the opportunity to talk to them first about their feelings. If you want to know more about this feel free to email me.
Thanks for sharing this friend, it’s good to have your comments here. Wishing you well in your situation.
Hi Wolf, would you be willing to share your story with a Polish guy learning about Native American people? I’d like to know more about your experiences and feelings on the story that you shared. I want to understand better. I’d email you, but the address isn’t displayed here it seems. Let me know in the reply!
I am with you, Wolf!
I cut my hair short to let go of the troubles of the past the last time I cut it almost completly of was when I finished High school and went to live on my own. Since then I went a few time because I wanted it looking nice but I promised My self I would not cop it of ever again. So for two years I have not been to the hairdresser and I intend to keep it that way. I do not know why I do it but the feeling is very strong
Long & strong!
Love my long hair almost to my wasit…as much work as it is to keep tidy.it does set me apart. ..from others my own age…the comments hear really spoke to me…my hair is part of my journey here..connects me to spirit.it is my strength. …while others see it as a mess…..and tell me to cut it would have yo be an important reason for this to ocurr..my heritage is celtic azores…mederterain…nz born….. not about ego or beauty….for me….thanks for all the posted I got alot from you all
Great to hear Chrissy! Thanks for sharing.
My long hair gives me self-confidence to go out of my house and face the world.
Don’t forget about the Nazarites. They let their grow long to show that they were devoted to God.
Thank you for bringing this out. Yes, Jesus and his people from Nazareth wore there hair long — VERY long, in fact. And as far as Monks are concerned, those in the Orthodox Church wear their hair long and gathered in a loose “pony tail”. God bless.
I hate having to cut my hair. I f insulted by people who tell me I should. Mostly I the form of their statement usually ending in a very mild insult. But it’s hard to tell them why I wish not to. Everyone else compliments it. For one I look so my better with it long. And two I can relate to this article, I feel power with it like a lions mane.
Its meant to say I feel insulted.*
A dear friend died a few days ago. Her husband was a Native American. One of their sons has been involved in his tribes traditions. The family held an open house this afternoon, and I noticed their son had cut off his long hair. I asked about it, and he said there are reasons for cutting ones hair. I asked if it was a culture thing, and a ceremonial thing, and he said yes. He told me he took a knife, and cut off his braid. I just did a google search to see if the hair cutting was due to his mother’s death. Thank you for the article.
Our condolences for your loss, Nancy. Glad you found the article here and thank you for sharing your experience.
Warm wishes to you and the family.
Leave it long as you are able to understand many things others cannot
Dana
It would be cool to see the people who committed how they wear their long hair and I seem to always fighting the shedding of hair it seems to be everywhere I Don’t know if it worse cause I am in a wheelchair or its that way for all.
The black girls and white girls fight over their hair ALL the damn time! A white girl will flick her long locks when the black girls walk past and then a massive fight will break out. Over HAIR. Makes me crazy. I know it’s more about the myth of beauty…
The Celtic people have many historical and cultural beliefs based on hair length, and hair color. Many are related to the spiritual life. This might be interesting to investgate.
Yes Pat we’ve heard that too! Need to dig a little deeper on that one.
Thanks for writing in!
Many thanks for this blog! I’ve always wondered about various reasons for long hair from different cultures around the world. I definitely agree that doing a post on Vikings or perhaps early Picts/Celts or any pre-Roman European tribe would be excellent. I had long hair in my 20s and then cut it in my later 20s only to let it grow again in my 40s. I realized recently that I started letting it grow longer after a trip to South Dakota about 5 1/2 years ago. Even though I don’t have any indigenous blood, I seem to connect with many of their beliefs. My own indigenous backround would be generically called “celtic” I suppose and unfortunately, it is hard to find very much on any pre-Roman tribes of Europe. The bit of reading I’ve done does suggest many similarities between native Americans and ancient Celts. A good book I read a year or so ago called “The Druids” by Stuart Piggott has a couple of pages showing old Britons with war paint and long hair (during Caesar’s time) side by side with pictures of native Americans around the 16th century.
Yo Brett, great comment man! Thanks for writing in, would love to see that picture. You could send it via DM on Instagram or to greathair at blog.thelonghairs.us
Glad you liked the post amigo!
My hair is my religion, it represents my faith , my culture and my tribe.
My Hair Is ….
a figure of majesty
a promise of integrity
a crown of dignity
the force of equality
a symbol of my faith
a way to stand out .
Inspirational!
I have naturally wavy hair, and before I cut it off, it was half way down my back. However, I hated it, and I never understood it. So one day, I did a pixie cut and it did so many things. For starters, it automatically weeded out judgemental superficial people. Guys who wanted to date me before now had no interest. Some girls avoided me because all women with short hair are lesbians right? Ignorance…So it taught me about character in general. It complimented my face shape and it made me confident. Then, with having such a small amount of hair to maintain, I learned the chemistry of my hair and how to make it healthy, and also how to make my natural waves smooth and beautiful. Now that I am growing it back out, I begin the journey in full understanding of my hair, that ties me to nature and that spiritual wild side, and also with a new perspective on human nature. It’s taught me to be aware, and in some ways…to be feral. The drastic reset button of sorts gave me some things that I was missing. It’s just hair, but then again, it’s not.
Great comment Gadawggrl, appreciate reading your story. While it’s the opposite of most people here, it’s very much the same. Glad you came across The Longhairs and decided to share.
My son passed away almost 6 months ago. He had locs in his hair. I had them cut off and attached to mine. I believe my son is whose keeping me strong tbh
So sorry to hear that Isha. What a powerful way to keep the physical connection. Very moved by that.
That’s pretty awesome! I’ve never thought of it that way.
This is fascinating…it made me interested enough to see (on Amazon) if there are any books on the subject (and I didn’t find much…titles about styling and one book of poetry about boys and long hair). Then I started thinking that you guys should write it…to include history/culture re male long hair, section re nutrients for long hair; styling for various occasions/with/without hat…always with your bands; how to flip it…etc etc. I have a feeling your site may mark the beginning of a movement…with that in mind, a book from you guys might be a nice torpedo/additional product.
We’re writing it, one blog post at a time. Thanks for the book idea and for writing in!
nice
Congratulations to the creators of this site. Take note, be sure that you notice, that all your hard work has led to a person who is a non-native English speaker translating an article for you . Finding your efforts important/VALID enough to take their time to translate it into French. That’s pretty freaking…. HONEST!
To be completely honest I have been waiting for the cultural (Mainly Native American) reference article to be created. I happen to be Native American and I actually began growing my flow out since my first year of college. I truly started to feel my connection with Mother Earth and The Creator. I do also understand and respect other cultural beliefs such as the Rastafarians, where the longer your hair means the older you are and with that comes respect for ones elders. I also appreciate the story of Samson where his locks signify his strength. This was a very great read and I appreciate the accuracy. Keep them coming, YEEE!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this article, and you felt it was accurate. One of my main goals in this series is to accurately and respectfully describe the traditions and cultures that we feature, so its great to get positive feedback from you. I definitely plan to do a post on the Rastafarians, so stay tuned.
Aho!
i’ ve translated that post in french language and shared at that page: http://chamanedaniel.canalblog.com/archives/2016/10/18/34456562.html
I just love you guys and this community…
I do feel longhairs generally are more in tune with enjoying life and things like nature. I feel like the growth process really makes you appreciate your hair and makes it feel rare, and the Viking culture would make a badass article
I was very surprised how emotionally attached I became to my longer hair when I finally decided to just let it grow! With long hair I feel more confident than I ever did with short hair, …maybe because for the first time ever, I’m living as my authentic self. My long hair appears epic, as though I stepped out of the pages of a historical time line!
I definitely think my long hair increased my perception of feeling wind and it’s driving me crazy. 😀
I think every culture had one point in history where long hairs would be the way to go. I feel like the vikings are one of the most commonly known Longhairs in history, so that would be a good next stop for the “Longhair Traditions” journey.
Also in my opinion Japan in the Edo-Period had some interesting hairstyles. The “chonmage” for example (wich is still worn by sumo-wrestlers) is a fancy, interesting and pretty rad one.
Agreed on the wind – thank God for hair ties!
On the other spectrum of Longhairs, I have worked with Buddhist communities in Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia and they remove all of their hair–head, arms, legs, chest, eyebrows, etc. When men and women go into the monastic community, they cut their hair as a symbol of purification– non-attachment of ego and self. I find this of particular interest knowing how much time and energy Longhairs spend caring for our hair and often times defines us. This concept might be an interesting topic to write or do an audio blog. Possibly someone at the Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, CA would be available to speak with and share?
The hair removal of Buddhist Monks is a topic worthy of further discussion. As we well know, it takes a considerable amount of time and effort to groom hair. We spend so much time on our outward appearance. I can see that there would be more time for spiritual growth without that vanity, and instead turning those efforts inwards. It would be fascinating to interview someone that had taken the vows, and shaved their body to see how they felt doing it and how it affected them.
Many monks wear very long hair while on dutie. To say goid bye to life they start cutting such long hair. So there are lamas and monks with very long hair
I believe it also takes quite a bit of time and effort and vanity to continually maintain hairlessness and remove hair from the entire body. I dont know of the process the Buddhist monks use to “dehair the entire body ” but I imagine it takes quite a bit of time and effort!
I know this is late, but i have to point out how much time it takes to shave all the hair off the body, and doing it constantly for a reason isn’t part of vanity or ego? it seems just letting your hair grow shows you have nothing to prove. To me it’s both the same, we’ll never rid ourselves of ego because it is what we are, all we can do is learn to live with it and not let it take us over.
Hi Tejas, I just read your comment and I have been enjoying every single reply. Thank you for posting.
I just wanted to say to compliment or add to your comment, that I do not agree we are our egos, but we do have it because we can make a distinction between the ego and something else! which is an important distinction I’d say!
But I do agree with you, it takes a lot of time to cut hair in the name of being without ego. If nature, creation, existence, life, or God, whatever we want to call that, made us with hair, the ego would then represent the intervention to disrupt the natural process and not the natural process. So it doesn’t make any sense to cut hair, for me, in that sense of being as egoless as possible!
And taking time to care for oneself is a beautiful thing, nurturing and loving our living temple may take time, but what else is as important as life represented as yourself? If we cease to exist how do we care for the world? If we are on a plane and it depressurizes and we try to put the mask on our children first, then we blackout and die, how will we take care of the world and our children later? So taking care primarily of one’s individual self, not disregarding and aligning with the bigger self which can be called as nature, life, existence, or God is primary for me.
I’d like to hear some history and theories on the reason why Japanese samuri grow their hair and wear it. I’ve heard stories of how hair symbolizes honor amongst fellow samuri, and whenever the hair is cut it represents a great loss of honor and respect. I’ve been growing my hair for over a year now, and I can definitely relate to some of the ideas and beliefs from the Native Americans. I respect their cultural values, and understand the connection with nature and spirit.
No se sinlla lo hicieron pero hablen de Sanson que tenia la fuerza por su pelo.
I’ve had long hair in the past. Nearly to my waist, but cut it all off in 2003. For the past several years, I’d get one cut a year. We’d take me down to a really short cut, then I’d enjoy the process of growing out some freaking awesome shag. It was a really fun process of having to change up hair styles every 3-4 weeks, in order to keep up with the growth.
In Jan2015, however, as my spiritual awakening began to happen, I found myself wanting to have long hair again. I didn’t know that I was finally waking up into fully realized spiritual existence, until the following September. So, I the desire to grow my hair back out wasn’t a conscious connection with the other process. It is who I am. I’m sure that my future incarnations are going to want to have kick-ass long hair, too. 😀
I’ve always been highly intuitive, but it was a hot mess running on auto pilot. I can’t say that my longer hair has heightened my “gifts”, because it also coincides with me learning to listen to them more. And, correlation not being equal to causation, I cannot factually claim that my longer hair is making me more intuitive than before. It’s a good idea though, and is much more interesting a story than mere boring coincidence.
I agree that how we wear our hair can be tied to how we feel. I’ve gone through periods of change, and all I wanted to do is chop all my hair off, like the hair was holding me to my old patterns. It’s interesting to consider that your hair could be helping you harness your intuition. That makes me think about the common belief that women are more intuitive than men. Could it be somehow tied to hair length?
Though women tend to have longer hair than men in most cultures, a woman’s naturally higher access to consciousness and intuition is due mainly to her ability to bring forth life. It creates a direct connection between Spirit, Human, and Earth. Women are also more intuitive during menstruation. Long hair is one of many things that contribute to energy, power, intuition, and connection. It can act like antennas and also records down memory and emotion during the time period of growth.
I’ve heard that.
“Take what you have gathered from coincidence.” ~Bob Dylan
https://youtu.be/af7ngGxEusE
It against their realign to have short hair
Would you.be willing to help me learn this I’m learning our ways I lost my dad when I was two and want to teach my children our ways
Relating this article to the modern western world, I do feel there is a social perception of longhairs challenging standardised culture, taking a different approach to life and intentionally standing out. Within the business industry it’s often seen as non-conformist or rebellious which can be a negative as individuals struggle to relate with the person (out-group). Alternatively within the metal music community I think there are deep roots and connections with those long hairs especially the sense of belonging and being ‘one of us’ (in-group). Fascinating article especially about cultural identity.
As the grandchild of two Blackfoot Native Americans, I would like to point out that the traditions, which were passed to my siblings and I from as early as I can remember, date back to a time before Columbus came and “discovered” America, and LONG before heavy metal music. Every depiction I have ever seen of Christopher Columbus, he has hair down past his ears and neck. Our long hair is believed to connect us to nature and the earth. It is a symbol of strength and power. Hair is only cut when mourning the loss of a close loved one and there is a ceremony that accompanies the placement of the hair back into the earth. It is cut to show the world we are mourning. To have someone cut our hair, as they did to my Grandmother, is humiliating, a sign of defeat, and strips away part of us that carries the stories of our life. Native Americans with their Headdresses, tribal dances, moccasins, rituals, and numerous other traditions, were here before anyone else and lived lives steeped heavily in tradition and culture. To Native Americans, whose land was taken from them, short hair is seen as a weakness and carries negative implications. Personally, I feel judging someone based on the length of their hair is beyond ignorant. My brother has a Mohawk, which is another accepted hairstyle in our culture, and works as the head chef at a five-star restaurant and owns a non-profit animal rescue. Both my sisters and I graduated college with honors and have hair around or past our hips. In no way is our hair a symbol of defiance or a way to “stand out,” we are proud to carry traditions of our family and have that amount of respect for our grandparents and ancestors that we deal with the inconvenience of having such long hair. I am proud to have been raised by parents who taught us not to judge others based on anything but the content of their character and the interactions we personally have with them.
Beautiful, thank you for sharing the traditions of your family. Honored
That was an amazing reply. Thank you for your frankness and straight forward answer. I now have a better understanding of something of which I didn’t know that I was ignorant. To quote Karen “Honored”
I hope black”foot” is a typo. But its blackfeet also known as the pikuni people. I agree mostly on everything you stated, but the part about judging people with shorter hair. I have yet to meet a native who did so. Our hair is our medicine, but we dont judge on hair length. Mostly on character. As natives, we live in 2 worlds. Living in modern day society, and living on that red road.
Hi Rebecca,
Thanks so much for sharing your story!
I would very much like to speak to you regarding a natural hair care campaign by a global brand I am working on at the moment, that focuses on natural, ancestral remedies for hair, that may have been passed down through generations. I’m aware of the significance attributed to hair in the native American culture and have been reading about the natural remedies your ancestors have relied on for centuries to nourish and look after that part of their body and soul. I thought I’d reach out to you to find out whether you or your sisters have carried on that tradition as well! If you are interested and would like to hear more about this, then I’d love to hear from you! Please drop me an email at [email protected] and I’ll get back to you! All the best, Ruth
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story! I would love to connect with you via Facebook if you have one. My name is Cassaundra Roskowske and it will show that I work with Richmond Vale.
As a native of Creek Nation, I appreciate your description of what long means to Native Americans. Spot on. Mvto is thank you in our native tongue.
Glad to hear it JT. Thanks for writing in.
I agree I’m Cherokee and choctaw
Thank you Rebecca.
Thank you Rebecca you told me more than most sites did
Well said you have been raised well I see honour respect fairness and humility this I will say you are wise and revered thank you for all you do
I realize that you post is from 2017, Rebecca, but I hope this somehow reaches you. My given name is also Rebecca Jeanne (pronounced Jean) but I’ve always been called “Jeannie.” Both of my Great-Grandmothers were from different tribes. My Dad’s Grandmother was from within the Cherokee Nation and she thankfully escaped the Trail of Tears in Tennessee. My Mom’s Grandmother was kidnapped from her people; forced to wear white people’s clothing; was forbidden to speak her language; and they cut her hair and called her an orphan. I, too, wear my hear as it was made. I was very proud to see my 6th white hair appear on my 60th birthday last year. I’ve been teased most of my life for not cutting my hair, but this wonderful article and your beautiful contribution to my further learning have touched my soul. I thank you, Rebecca, for sharing your family’s story and not erasing the pain. I, too, was very blessed to raised by parents who taught me and my late-sister to never judge others based on anything but the exact same thing Reverend King said, “the content of their character,” which, in turn, is how I raised my son; and it’s also how he and his wife raise their two sons, all of whom have the blood of our Native American ancestors running through our veins. I hurts me badly when white children are encouraged by their parents to jump in the middle of Native Americans who are dancing. Though I may look white, It still breaks my heart because they show no respect by what they do and make a travesty of a very sacred thing. The worst time was when I saw it at Ft. Knox where I was living at that time. I am no longer a slave to any organization in this country. I’m simply a part of the greatest people to ever walk this land; and I always remain humble; and I’m eager to learn from people like you who are so kind and brave to share the truth. Thank you so much, Rebecca. Peace be with you.
Vauuuu, this is great! I have been researching for many years in the field of combustion culture in Croatia. Croatian culture is interesting because it is the only one in the world that possesses the most diverse techniques of knitting hair.It fascinates me with the American culture of hair combs.
I accidentally found this blog because we need information on combing cultures in the world of hair styling books.
I would like more photos of traditional hairstyles in America.
Sorry for bad writing.
Do the Vikings
Roger that!
I love this article and replies. I am of Peruvian descent (Inca nation) and have long, thick, beautiful black hair. It has always grown very fast and I get it trimmed a few times a year. I gave birth 4 months ago and me and my baby girl are shedding our hair. I found this interesting and can only find that it is due to a drop in hormones no longer needed from the pregnancy. I’ve been throwing away the shedded hair but always intuitively knowing I am throwing away something sacred. I found this blog while trying to find an answer for how to discard it respectfully. I found it in a comment: bury in the dirt.
A comment in this thread also triggered 2 childhood memories in which my mother cut off all my hair as a punishment. I felt a deep humiliation and loss at the times, but didn’t realize why the trauma was so deep.
Thank you for sharing
Thank you for the fascinating and heartfelt comment Anai! Very glad you found your answer in the comments here.
I love your country, here is a blog post from my journeys there in 2012: https://followchris.me/2012/12/16/adventures-in-bolivia-and-peru/
Wishing you and your baby girl the very best, and buena suerte!
Thank you. You’re experience is a valuable treasure.
Personally I just like having long hair, it’s the way I should be. I’m of Celtic heritage and hair has been an important part of my culture also
Slainte!
I completely agree. I grew up in the metal scene and had short hair at the time and felt out of place. I now have long hair and work for a huge corporation and feel so out of place often.
I’d really appreciate it if you could to a topic on long hair and its significance for either Nordic or Latin American (preferably aztec or mayan)!!
Nice suggestions. Those would both be interesting to explore. I am thinking Vikings next!
But we are of the same branch, so when you talk about native Americans you are talking about Aztecs.
That in no way is true!!!
Jesi, you must be fun and parties. Lmao
AZTECS ARE NATIVE AMERICANS!!! YES!!!
Truth
It would be cool to know more on this topic fro around the world. What about the Rastafarians of Jamaica or the Sadhu of India?
Great ideas man! We’ll get some of these in the queue. Thanks mate!
Yes!!! I agree with this comment! Please ☺️