Talk:Head shaving

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 26 August 2018 and 4 December 2018. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Dalis116.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 23:10, 16 January 2022 (UTC)

Section on Hygiene/Medical Purposes
The article does not explore the practical purposes of head shaving when done for medical purposes, and - aside from passing mention in the "Prison and punishment" section - does not (yet) adequately inform about head shaving as a common method of hygiene (in certain cultures and time periods) to deter lice and fleas.


 * https://worldhistory.us/ancient-history/ancient-egypt/ancient-egypt-beauty-makeup-and-hygiene.php
 * https://icyviolets.com/bathing-history/
 * https://factsandhistory.com/what-was-hygiene-like-in-colonial-america/ "As lice was common, shaving one's head also helped prevent bugs from infesting hair."
 * https://spartacus-educational.com/FWWlice.htm (10) Harriet Hyman Alonso, Robert E. Sherwood The Playwright in Peace and War (2007): "Robert Sherwood's main trench annoyance was lice, another constant among soldiers. Filthy, wet clothing welcomed these pests, where they lodged in seams and caused constant itching. Many men also had head lice, which drove them to shave their heads" — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.32.111.69 (talk) 03:23, 5 November 2021 (UTC)

Headblade Commercial?
"One company, Headblade, makes a special type of razor that is specifically designed for shaving of the head (this company also manufactures accessories to assist in properly maintaining the look, including special shaving cream and two types of moisturizers, one of which is designed to give the shaved head a distinctly shiny or 'glossy' appearance)."

Why don't we just go all the way, tell users how much, and work out an affiliate program with them for referrals from this article? Come on. WCityMike 21:52, Feb 9, 2005 (UTC)


 * Yeah, it was pretty silly. I've made it less annoying now. --Joy &#91;shallot&#93;   01:01, 5 Mar 2005 (UTC)


 * I think that the fact that they do make a razor specifically designed for head shaving is worth some mention, as long as the mention doesn't go overboard.
 * JesseG 05:05, Jun 6, 2005 (UTC)


 * I've removed the picture. While I think it might be okay to mention a commercial product (although I'm not sure that it is), I think that it is getting close to advertising to include an image of that product without including a more general picture associated with head shaving. -- Grummbles 12:58, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

Nicks and Cuts
As someone who has reguarly shaved his head (since 2002), I've got the shaving part pretty well down now. But even after all this time I still nick myself from time to time, even though I'm being as careful as I can. All it takes is for the razor to slip even slightly. I found a lot of times that nicks and cuts occur right after I've replaced the blade - it has to be broken in a bit. JesseG 05:05, Jun 6, 2005 (UTC)

Neutrality
This page contained generalisations and is written from a western (North American) perspective which is likely not to be the case in other parts of the world (particulrly in terms of popularity etc). It should not be assumed to be true everywhere. The article does not describe the popularity (or social conotations and stigmas) of the cut in non-western countries. It does not discuss ceremonial head shaving such as that associated with Buddhist monks, or Masai adolescents, or Haj pilgrims. The section relating to teachers and classmates (imo) is very culturally subjective. In some countries/cultures head shaving is frowned upon and this would not happen (presumably in Germany where head shaving is associated with nazi skinheads). -- Grummbles 12:54, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

I completely agree, and if I was more of an expert on the subject, I would happily write about it (I wish I was). But on another note about this, I find this to be an extraordinarily ridiculous, even demeaning, statement: "Often, females are afraid to shave their heads, but society is welcoming these newly shorn women into every aspect of society." For one thing, the word often should be removed for sure, as it unnecessarily generalises. Are there any statistics or sources to back this statement up? While I do not have an exact source to cite at the moment, I know for a fact that there are many men who are also afraid to shave their heads. Why is this not mentioned in the same statement? Based on the fact that the statement is overly patronizing and pure speculation, and is also not necessary to the flow of the article, I am going to go ahead and remove it. --Iya


 * Just to add my experience of what seems to be the German viewpoint:
 * In Germany, men who shave their heads used to be easily mistaken for right-wing extremists (although this may vary with the general looks, wear, etc), but this seems to have faded a bit in the past years, especially with tv celebrities and movie actors promoting it as trendy every now and then (it's still not considered the norm, but usually not particularily frowned upon). For women, it's a bit worse as they may easily be stereotyped as misandrist feminist lesbians or simply "freakish" (although this severely varies accross subcultures -- it's a non-issue among goths, for example). I guess non-geriatric baldness is generally somehow associated with masculinity, which would explain the different "norms" for men and women. I, for one, think that a shaved head can be sexy -- no matter the gender or sex.
 * Sidenote about the neo-nazi thing: "Skinhead" is used almost interchangably with "neo-nazi" by most Germans, courtesy of our mainstream news services which keep on propagating the idea that all skins are nazis and all nazis shave their heads. Obviously, this is a bit different among left-wingers (not SPD-left, real left). &mdash; Ashmodai (talk &middot; contribs) 23:02, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Religious reasons?
Just wondering whether somebody could add some info on the religious reasons for head shaving? That was why I looked up the article - but there's nothing to be found here and I have no idea myself. All I know is that it is practised in some Asian religious communities and was (I think) required of ancient Egyptian priests. Thanks to anyone who can help.--62.158.106.124 19:50, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

Ya, I'm afraid I know little on it. But, I think monks used to shave their heads as a submission to God. And I think most Egyptians shaved their heads because of the sand and heat. 171.66.155.224 20:58, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

Second person
Please avoid using the second person (you, your) in an encyclopedia article. Can someone fix it? It's under the headline that says "Practice". I don't know how to reword it myself. Perhaps the paragraph in question should be removed altogether. &mdash;  Ed Gl  23:43, 3 September 2006 (UTC)

Lesbians?
Is it relevant to add something about buch lesbians who have shaved heads?


 * No, it isn't. And it's spelled B-U-T-C-H. Gotham23 15:18, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

WWII reference
Who were these women who got their heads shaved after world war two, and why?


 * French women who had had relationships with occupying German soldiers. --84.152.225.215 23:48, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

Phrase "shaved to the bone"
This article mentions an archaic phrase "en hro" meaning shaved to the bone. Is this a real phrase and if so what "archaic" tongue is it written in? Thank you!

Izkatel (talk) 03:53, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

The context suggests Greek.

Blue Man Group
It says on the article on Blue Man Group that they wear latex bald caps. That is why I am removing them from the article —Preceding unsigned comment added by Alien joe (talk • contribs) 15:44, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

Cancer Supporters
Is "Cancer supporters" really the correct terminology to use? The people mentioned, that shave their heads to raise money for cancer patients, do not "support" cancer, they oppose it strongly. I know.Rather then supporting cancer they support cancer patients,a major difference.Immunize (talk) 16:32, 16 January 2010 (UTC)

Actors section
I see no encyclopaedic value in the "Actors who have shaved their heads for roles" section. If there are no objections, I shall remove it. Puchiko (Talk-email) 20:25, 22 April 2009 (UTC)
 * Maybe a "famous" section, with the names of permanently head shaved persons would be more relevant and informing. One to start with: Pim Fortuyn.--VKing (talk) 22:33, 30 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Another one: Andre Agassi.--VKing (talk) 18:17, 31 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I agree with Puchiko. Bold removal called for.  Kenilworth Terrace (talk) 20:50, 28 March 2010 (UTC)

Famous?
I remember Sinead O'Connor getting interviews and press because she 'dared' to shave her head. Just like Britney. Who was the first famous person to do this for a publicity stunt? It seems to re-occur every so often. ~ender 2009-08-10 17:51:PM MST —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.167.219.101 (talk)

Sinead O'Connor
Why Sinead O'Connor keeps shaving her head is common? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.100.126.226 (talk) 07:42, 16 April 2016 (UTC)

I have no idea why this article has three fucking pictures of women with shaved heads when it's extremely uncommon for a woman to shave her head. Why would someone use wikipedia when it misrepresents reality? There are 100,0000 men with shaved heads for each woman, yet this ridiculous article represents that it's 50/50.

Editing the Religious Section of Head Shaving
This article could use some additional information under the religious section of the Head Shaving page. I will reference the source "'Grace is Deceitful and Beauty if Vain': How Hassidic Women Cope with the Requirement of Shaving One's Head and Wearing a Black Kerchief" by sociologist Dr. Sima Zalcberg of Ben-Gurion University. I plan on adding information about the Hassidic sect Toldot Aharon, one of the only Hassidic groups that continues the custom of head shaving for women. I will also add information about the significance behind head shaving in this Hassidic group and how it relates to modesty ideals. If anyone wants to comment on these changes, please let me know on this Talk Page or my Talk Page. Dalis116 (talk) 19:49, 14 November 2018 (UTC)
 * Looks promising. But, seeing as there are only 1-2 sentences on each religion in this section, writing such a long blurb about one Hassidic group will be disproportional. Can you add 1-2 sentences about these Hassidic women in this article, and add several more to the Wiki article Toldos Aharon, which surprisingly has nothing about shaving.Chapmansh (talk) 20:35, 20 November 2018 (UTC)

Spotty coverage
No pun intended. Apart from a lack of references to cultures other than Western, already noted, there seemed to me several lacunae.

Military: I know that in the eras when armour was worn, from Caesar to Henry V (at least), very short hair was the norm, for practical reasons. Surely some soldiers shaved completely?

Wigs & pests: There is mention of shaving as a measure against head lice etc. but no real discussion of its commonplace use in 16th-18th century Europe. Elizabeth I shaved her head & wore wigs I believe; in the 17th-18th century it was de rigueur for men in society.

Tonsure: (As practised by many orders of Christian religious)  Although a tonsure is generally partial, it definitely involves shaving the head. S/b covered here or at least mentioned & xreferenced.

In modern culture: i.e. 21st century. I came to this article wondering why so.many of my contemporaries are shaving their heads. Not at all a low mantenance option as far as I can tell. I was not enlightened.

Please, some culture historian, enlighten us! --D Anthony Patriarche (talk) 09:39, 28 July 2019 (UTC)

File:David Perron.png
This picture has been on article since 2020, please gain consensus for its removal here. I for one do not agree with its removal. Sportsfan 1234 (talk) 22:21, 29 April 2022 (UTC)
 * This edit, over a month old had this photo. Sportsfan 1234 (talk) 22:23, 29 April 2022 (UTC)
 * It was removed eighteen days ago with this edit https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Head_shaving&type=revision&diff=1082043200&oldid=1080219148. It looked to me as if your restoration was a new addition, when it turns out you were restoring a pic deleted eighteen days ago... if you would have said so in your edit summary, that would have saved me from some confusion.  So the pic is consensus, however, it being in the lead the way it was, and gigantically sized, needed to be changed, and where you put the pic with your last edit is fine by me. Le Marteau (talk) 23:23, 29 April 2022 (UTC)