3 Health Reasons to Cut Your Hair (2024)

By Chris Brown

That post-pandemic long hair look may be affecting your health more than you know. Getting a haircut means more than looking put together. It can reduce your risk of getting sick, maintain your hair health, and keep you mentally sane all at the same time. Below are three health reasons to schedule a session with your hairstylist today and trim those long locks.

Trims Promote Hair Health

By removing damaged hairs, haircuts promote healthy hair growth and stops the spread of split ends through the strands. This allows long-term hair health with less need for expensive products or conditioners. It is recommended to trim hair once every four months to maintain perfect hair health.

Long Hair Can Make You Sick

Your long hair may be causing you to become sick more often than your short-haired friends. This is because each individual hair strand contains a much greater surface area than a hair-size patch of skin. In fact, 30 centimeters of hair growth can equal up to five times more surface area relative to the rest of the body. More surface area means more places for viruses, pollution, and bacteria to settle. And when you consider that hair often sits near mouth level of others, it is no surprise that it can act like a home-grown mop for attracting disease carrying droplets.

One study found that 90 percent of the bacteria for food poisoning remained in hair an hour after exposure. Any hair touching can transfer pathogens to the body.Some bacteria and pollutants (such as cigarette smoke) can also smell, especially if long hair isn't washed frequently. This means that skipping regular cuts could transform you into a sneezing, coughing, smelly mess in no time.

A Cut Can Help With Mental Health

Our hair can have an intense connection to our emotional well-being. Studies have shown that cutting one's hair (especially when going through a traumatic life change, such as a breakup) can provide a sense of control and emotional release. Changing one's hairstyle can also be a powerful tool in helping redefine or solidify one's identity. Even a simple trim has mental health benefits. Leaving a salon with a fresh cut always gives an oxytocin mood boost since, similar to a massage or chiropractic session, it is a practice in self-care.

Want to help your mental health without a drastic new hair style? Visit The Joint Chiropractic today to experience the mood-boosting benefits of chiropractic manipulation. Sessions are affordable without insurance and are by hassle-free walk-in only. So feel free to stop by The Joint after your next hair trim to boost the effects of your hair self-love.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness,see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Harahan, La.

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3 Health Reasons to Cut Your Hair (2024)

FAQs

3 Health Reasons to Cut Your Hair? ›

By removing damaged hairs, haircuts promote healthy hair growth and stops the spread of split ends through the strands. This allows long-term hair health with less need for expensive products or conditioners. It is recommended to trim hair once every four months to maintain perfect hair health.

Why is cutting your hair healthy? ›

By removing damaged hairs, haircuts promote healthy hair growth and stops the spread of split ends through the strands. This allows long-term hair health with less need for expensive products or conditioners. It is recommended to trim hair once every four months to maintain perfect hair health.

Why do we need to cut our hair? ›

Trimming your hair actually encourages hair growth. It may sound counter-intuitive, but the appearance of broken and split-ends not only damages the look and feel of your hair, but it also contributes to the appearance of shorter hair and thinner ends. Freshly cut ends also help to de-tangle your hair!

Is cutting hair good for mental health? ›

According to Dr. Juli Fraga, a licensed psychologist in San Francisco, who specializes in women's health concerns, “Bad hair, like a bad outfit, can affect mood because it impacts how we see ourselves.”

Does cutting hair release trauma? ›

Hair and Emotional Trauma: A Cultural Interpretation

In some cultures, cutting one's hair is seen as a way to release past traumas and signify a fresh start. However, it's important to note that this is symbolic and personal, not a universally applicable or scientifically validated concept.

What are the pros and cons of cutting your hair? ›

Pros and cons of chopping your hair
  • Promotes hair growth.
  • Promotes healthy hair.
  • Cuts split ends.
  • Gets rid of swollen ends.
  • Gives a fresh look.
  • Reduces frizz.
  • Reduces hair fall.
  • You will not always like the change.
Jul 25, 2021

Is short hair good for health? ›

Is Short Hair Good For Health? Short hair can have some health benefits for both men and women. Here are some potential ways that short hair can promote better health: Less prone to damage: Short hair is less prone to damage from styling tools, sun exposure, and environmental pollutants than long hair.

What are the benefits of a haircut? ›

Regular haircuts stimulate hair growth by removing dead ends and promoting the growth of new, healthy hair. A good haircut will also improve blood circulation to the scalp, which is essential for healthy hair growth. However, if you're wondering “Does cutting hair make it grow faster”, the answer is no.

What does hair cutting symbolize? ›

Such constant meanings are shown in a folk tale, the mental lives of patients, clinical studies by other authors, and certain practices of other cultures. The cutting of hair symbolizes separation from a mothering object, castration, and reparation.

Does a haircut make you feel better? ›

A haircut can really be a morale booster. People who feel like they look good simply radiate positive energy. Consider how you might feel when you've got an uncomfortable mess on your head. It's no wonder that hair cuts can be a big deal in dictating how you feel.

Why do I feel happier after cutting my hair? ›

We want to free ourselves from intense emotions. Newman says that changing our physical appearance can feel like shedding a layer of skin which makes us feel better. It's normal to go through physical change after stressful experiences.

Do haircuts improve confidence? ›

Boosting Confidence

A fresh haircut that suits your face and personal style can dramatically increase your self-esteem. When you know you look good, it naturally elevates your mood and confidence, making you feel more prepared to face the world.

Is it bad to not cut your hair? ›

Getting haircuts should always be a part of your hair care. A trim helps keep your tresses healthy by removing breakage or split ends. Choosing to not get haircuts can be a detriment to all the hard work you do to keep your hair healthy, so try not to skip out on it.

Can hair hold energy? ›

According to some paranormal professionals, our hair indeed can hold either positive or negative energy. The theory is that your hair is a regular part of your nervous system. That means it passes the outside messages you get directly to your brain. This system balances your body's electromagnetic field.

Does long hair affect memory? ›

Your hair naturally gets phosphorus, calcium, and vitamin D when it grows in full length. The nutrients enter the body through two tubes at the top of the brain. This makes your memory more efficient and gives you physical strength and better stamina.

Is long hair unhealthy? ›

YES! Longer hair has much greater surface area to attract more virus and more air pollution, not to mention it absorbs more cigarette smoke. Research suggests that 30cm of hair growth on an average woman is equal to 5 times increase in surface area relative to the body.

Why cutting your own hair is better? ›

You take back convenience and control. Cutting your own hair also allows you to experiment with other styles. Make sure to get a clipper with a variety of guide combs and a detail trimmer. The combs allow you to adjust the length of the cut and customize your look.

Why do you feel better after a haircut? ›

You're fresh, you don't worry about your hair as much, and it's just so much easier to relax. This can already be true in a symbolic way, but it also literally helps you feel fresher. It's a win-win as you can get rid of hair woes that have been troubling you, and you also feel emotionally freer.

Does cutting hair make it less damaged? ›

While cutting split ends won't necessarily make hair grow faster, it can help to prevent further damage and maintain the overall length and thickness of your hair. By taking steps to address split ends and maintain healthy hair, you can achieve luscious locks that look and feel their best!

What happens if you never cut your hair? ›

Most people deal with split ends once the hair isn't cut regularly, which essentially wears on the ends of the hair and keeps it from getting longer. The hair splits, and the splits run up the shaft. Eventually, the hair can break off at these weakened spots if not cared for.

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