Religious reasons

Religious reasons

Head-shaving is a part of some Buddhist, Christian, Jain and Hindu traditions. Buddhist and Christian monks generally undergo some form of head-shaving or tonsure during their ordination; in Thailand monks shave their eyebrows as well. Brahmin children have their heads ritualistically shaved before beginning school.

In some parts of the Theravada Buddhist world, it is common practice to shave the heads of children. Weak or sickly children are often left with a small topknot of hair, to gauge their health and mark them for special treatment. When health improves, the lock is cut off.

In Judaism, there is no obligation to remove hair; nor is there a general prohibition to removing hair. However, there is a prohibition for men using a razor to shave their beards or sideburns; and, by custom, neither men nor women may cut their hair or shave during a 30-day mourning period after the death of an immediate family member.

The Bahá'í Faith recommends against complete and long-term head-shaving outside of medical purposes. It is not currently practiced as a law, contingent upon future decision by the Universal House of Justice, its highest governing body. Sikhs take an even stronger stance, opposing all forms of hair removal. One of the Sikh "Five Ks" is Kesh, meaning "uncut hair". To Sikhs, the maintenance and management of long hair is a manifestation of one's piety.

Muslim law (Sharia) puts hair in three categories: that which it is recommended to remove (pubic and armpit hair) and trim mustache. It is recommended to keep (the beard), and that which is the object of limited recommendation (foot, hand, back, and chest hair). Removal of armpit and pubic hair is a hygienic practice^{[citation needed]} which was taught by the Islamic prophet Muhammad and which was enumerated as having been part of practices conforming to man's premortal (Fitrah) nature practiced by all prophets of God. A muslim may trim or cut hair on head. The hairs on the chest and the back but may be removed. In the 9th century, the use of chemical depilatories for women was introduced by Ziryab in Al-Andalus.^[7]

Ancient Egyptian priests also shaved or depilated all over daily, so as to present a "pure" body before the images of the gods.