Hair And Sex?!

January, 2002
Hair News Magazine
by: Robert B. Sherwood

Take a minute to think about how many times per day we check our hair in a mirror or the reflection in a window as we pass by. How many times do we touch it or for that matter, how often we think about our hair throughout the day?

Why do we spend more personal care time on our hair than any other aspect of our appearance? Why does the way our hair feels, looks, or moves affect our mood and confidence so powerfully? Why when an attractive member of the opposite sex enters our area of possible encounter does our hand shoot straight up for a final touchup of our hair?

It simply isn't possible to appreciate the importance of hair in our daily life without examining its role in a sexual context. Whether we realize it or not, when we smell, touch, fondle or caress someone's hair, the behavior is a sexual act.

Regardless how much money we have, what we do for a living, or how perfect and flawless our body and attire might otherwise be, when our hair isn't right, we don't feel right. How our hair is cut, colored or styled, telegraphs to the world our sexual aggression's, insecurities, confidence and personal feelings. Hair, for better or worse, is the single most important part of our anatomy affecting our psyche. We will readily reschedule an appointment with our attorney, doctor, or accountant, before we will risk losing an opening with our favorite hairstylist.

If our genitalia is a primary sexual object, then hair is a secondary sexual object. In most countries and cultures it is socially unacceptable to openly display one's genitals, and usually unlawful too. It is precisely this social taboo that gives hair most of its power as a sexual object as it can usually be openly displayed, and even flaunted.

Some societies recognize the sexual allure of hair and for this reason have laws or customs requiring the covering or removal of hair. Often the shaving of the head is used as a form of punishment, or as in the case of the military, to destroy the psyche of self so that the soldier can be reprogramed as one of a team where all are alike, if not exactly equal.

Female hair is usually viewed as seductive with the color and length being used to categorize. Redheads are labeled as wanton, brunettes as aggressive, and blondes as submissive. Long hair an indicator of fertility and availability, and short hair as independent and forceful. The thinning of female hair implies loss of sexuality and femininity. Lack of luster and body indicates poor personal grooming.

Male hair is symbolic of virility and strength. Thus the loss of hair can represent the loss of virility, strength and stamina, a symbolic castration of a man's masculinity.

When a divorce is filed both parties make a dash for their salon. Subconsciously understanding that they need to make themselves back into a desirable acquisition for the opposite sex as dating will soon resume. A savvy hairstylist could make a fortune hanging out at the courthouse passing out cards. The courthouse represents judging, and we want to be judged as attractive and sexual, beyond all else.

If that were not reason enough to keep one's hair in the best possible shape and condition, in addition to dating, hair also determines our careers, promotions and friendships. We not only love hair and covet the hair of those that are blessed, we often shun and avoid those with hair lesser than our own and view ourselves as superior as we use our hair to attract, flaunt, and seduce.

* Based on an article in: Hair - An Owner's Handbook, by Philip Kingsley, Aurum Press Ltd, 1995.