Hair has long been a symbol of strength, beauty, and identity across different cultures. It’s no surprise that over the centuries, various superstitions and folklore have developed around the cutting, styling, and care of hair. These beliefs often reflect deeper cultural values and sometimes even magical thinking, with hair playing a central role in everything from good luck rituals to spiritual protection. Let’s take a journey through some of the most fascinating and unusual hair-related superstitions from around the world.
1. Cutting Hair During a Full Moon – Various Cultures
Many cultures believe that the moon’s phases influence not only tides and crops but also hair growth. In some traditions, cutting your hair during a full moon is thought to promote faster growth and thicker hair. This belief is particularly strong in parts of Europe and Latin America, where people may wait for a full moon to trim their locks, hoping for longer, healthier hair. Conversely, cutting your hair during a waning moon is said to slow down hair growth and weaken the strands.
2. Don’t Cut Your Hair on Tuesdays – India
In India, it is widely believed that cutting your hair or nails on a Tuesday brings bad luck. The superstition stems from ancient Hindu beliefs that Tuesdays are governed by Mars (Mangal), a planet associated with aggression and conflict. Performing certain personal grooming tasks, like haircuts or shaving, is thought to invite misfortune, sickness, or even financial loss. For this reason, many people in India avoid visiting barbers or salons on this day of the week.
3. Burying or Burning Hair to Avoid Witchcraft – Global
In many parts of the world, people have been cautious about how they dispose of their hair, fearing that it could be used in witchcraft or curses. In countries like Italy and Ireland, it was once common to burn or bury hair clippings to prevent witches or enemies from using them in spells. The belief was that hair, as an extension of the self, could be manipulated to control the person it came from. In some cultures, people would even carry their cut hair with them until they found a safe place to bury or burn it, ensuring their safety.
4. Braid Your Hair for Protection – Native American Tribes
In many Native American cultures, hair is seen as an important extension of the self and is deeply connected to one's spirit. For example, some tribes believe that long hair symbolizes a strong connection to the Earth and their ancestors. Braiding hair is often done to promote balance and order, while also providing protection from negative energy. The three strands of a braid can symbolize mind, body, and spirit, and braiding is often done as a ritual act before important events like ceremonies or battles.
5. Hair in Food Brings Wealth – China
A rather unusual superstition in China is that finding a strand of hair in your food is a sign of coming wealth. While many cultures would be horrified to find hair in their meal, in Chinese folklore, this occurrence is believed to bring good luck and financial gain. The idea is that the strand of hair represents a thread of fortune that will weave its way into the diner’s life. Although modern hygiene practices may have lessened the prevalence of this belief, it remains a quirky part of Chinese superstition.
6. Never Cut Hair During Pregnancy – Various Cultures
In many cultures, including in Mexico and parts of Eastern Europe, pregnant women are advised not to cut their hair. The superstition stems from the belief that hair holds strength and energy, which are essential during pregnancy. Cutting hair is thought to weaken both the mother and the unborn child, possibly leading to complications during childbirth or even a shortened life for the child. While there is no scientific basis for this belief, it continues to be observed by many families.
7. Baldness as a Sign of Misfortune – Ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, hair was considered a symbol of vitality and youth. Baldness, whether natural or from shaving, was often associated with bad luck or a loss of divine favor. Pharaohs and noblemen would wear elaborate wigs to conceal their baldness, as it was thought to bring misfortune and diminish their status in the eyes of the gods. Hair was so important that both men and women would go to great lengths to ensure their locks were kept long, thick, and well-groomed.
8. Hair and the Evil Eye – Mediterranean
In Mediterranean cultures, particularly in Greece and Turkey, it is believed that hair can attract the "evil eye," a malevolent glare that brings misfortune. Mothers in these cultures often pin a blue or red ribbon into their children’s hair to ward off the evil eye and protect them from harm. Additionally, some believe that tying a small piece of red thread or ribbon around a lock of hair can protect against curses and envy.
9. Hair as a Vessel for Love Spells – European Folklore
In European folklore, hair was often used in love spells or potions. It was believed that if you could obtain a lock of someone’s hair, you could use it to bind them to you romantically. Witches were said to weave hair into charms or dolls to ensure the target of the spell would fall hopelessly in love with the person who cast it. This belief persisted for centuries, leading to a widespread fear of leaving hair clippings or combed-out strands where they could be collected by someone with ill intentions.
10. Newborn's First Haircut – Islamic Tradition
In Islamic tradition, it is customary to shave a newborn's head seven days after birth. This practice is known as Aqiqah and is done as a symbolic gesture to cleanse the child of impurities and welcome them into the world. The shaved hair is often weighed, and the equivalent weight in silver or gold is given to charity as an offering. This ritual is believed to bring blessings to the child and ensure their health and prosperity.
From warding off evil spirits to predicting wealth, hair has played an important role in the superstitions and folklore of cultures around the world. Whether it’s about how or when you cut your hair, what you do with your hair clippings, or the mystical properties hair is believed to hold, these beliefs reflect the deeper spiritual and symbolic significance of hair throughout human history.