Nuns haircut

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

Shaving is only a good idea if you are NOT wearing a veil.  Sound silly? Of course, but I tried shaving my head one time when I was a Carmelite and as it grew back in, it rubbed against the toque (headpiece) and veil and was so itchy for weeks that I thought I would die. It would hardly look right to be scratching one's head all the time in choir!  Talk about mortification! After that lesson, I learned to keep it short, but not shaved!

True!!!

 

[Gabriela]

I actually did shave it down to the skin once (using a bic razor—ouch!) and a much bigger problem than itching was that it was winter and so taking my knitted cap on and off was like applying velcro every time! LOL.

(That, and I discovered I have a REALLY ugly scalp.)

[Nunsuch]

Certainly the vast majority of sisters in the US do not have hair rituals anymore (but the majority do not wear veils, either). The proportions may be different for habited contemplatives (not all contemplatives wear habits and veils, either, but more of them do).  The reason most sisters have short hair is ease of upkeep, from what I can determine from my friends. I do have a novice friend who had very long hair--until Friday, when she decided to get it cut. But it was personal choice, over a year into her (unhabited/unveiled) novitiate. No one asked her to, or even urged her to.

 

[AveMariaPurissima]

I didn't get far enough in formation to receive the habit, but in my former community, the Sisters kept their hair extremely short -- possibly even shaved, I'm not 100% sure.  They wore a close-fitting cloth cap (I don't know what it's called in English, but I believe the Spanish word for it was cofia) and the veil over that.  No hair or ears showing.

[4LoveofJMJ]

Oh to be able to chuck something on my head and not be concerned about my self-willed hair. 

Lol yes!!!! Sometimes it seems like my mind has a mind of it's own. It's so thin and fine. My mom kinda jinxed me with one of those "3 different types of hair in 1" things. Not really but it sure feels like it. I always have to work at making it look nice. It would be amesome to not have to worry about my hair for a change.

And yes, it does depend on the community. At my old church, there was a sister who told me that her community didn't have their hair cut when they took the veil due to the fact that they had so many sisters who had out of control hair. If they didn't braid their hair back, it would be so staticy that it would be poking out from the head piece. Even at the end of a long day, the sister would have a halo of hair. Lol!

[Antigonos]

It is actually very bad for the hair to be constantly under a veil, scarf, turban, or hijab.  Much better to be kept short.  For years, working in Labor and Delivery where I had to keep my hair covered [like in the Operating Room; this was the rule in the 70s, now pretty much abandoned], I struggled with not only trying to keep my very long hair clean, but to keep it from falling out!  The roots, it seems, get "smothered" from the weight of fabric and can't "breathe".

[Nunsense]

I actually did shave it down to the skin once (using a bic razor—ouch!) and a much bigger problem than itching was that it was winter and so taking my knitted cap on and off was like applying velcro every time! LOL.

(That, and I discovered I have a REALLY ugly scalp.)

I have a very misshapen head at the back, very flat. I would not like to be bald all of the time. 

It is actually very bad for the hair to be constantly under a veil, scarf, turban, or hijab.  Much better to be kept short.  For years, working in Labor and Delivery where I had to keep my hair covered [like in the Operating Room; this was the rule in the 70s, now pretty much abandoned], I struggled with not only trying to keep my very long hair clean, but to keep it from falling out!  The roots, it seems, get "smothered" from the weight of fabric and can't "breathe".

Yes, nuns have told me that their hair thins out and rubs in patches over long periods of time. I suppose it depends on the individual but wearing something all of the time doesn't let the head breathe at all.

The other problem that I found with a veil is that some of them look good on me and some look terrible - it depends on the style of the headpiece and the veil itself. Vanity is not an issue of course (snicker) especially when one doesn't have a lot of mirrors around, but I have seen photographs of me with certain veils and it looks worse than my thinning hair!!  

[marigold]

@‌ People who commented that they would love to not bother with their hair and just cover it - why don't you? Just curious.

[BarbTherese]

Head itches when covered

[marigold]

Head itches when covered

Fair enough!

[puellapaschalis]

@‌ People who commented that they would love to not bother with their hair and just cover it - why don't you? Just curious.

I did for a while - about a year, maybe two? Took it off at night.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

@‌ People who commented that they would love to not bother with their hair and just cover it - why don't you? Just curious.

Actually, I do when I can get away with it. I often wear a baseball-style cap if I am running errands. I've never liked things like sun hats and it would look odd in my community to wear a kerchief etc. But, since I live in the Midwest, wearing some type of headcovering in winter is pretty common. and winter lasts roughly half the year (snow from late Nov (at the latest) to mid-April).

I have very straight, fine hair that I wore long until my mid-20's because that was the style. I had it cut short (and styled) in my mid-20's and wore it that way for many years.My hair looks much better short. Since I've gotten sick and no longer can work, I wear my hair straight and shoulder-length, unstyled. When I leave the house, I pull my hair back in a short ponytail at the nape of my neck. It's not the best hairstyle, but is not terrible, either. Best of all, it's VERY easy and age-appropriate. 

From these posts, everyone is different. I was never that fond of my long hair, so probably would not have felt sad at cutting it. However, I strongly suspect that my current attitude about my hair is a reflection of my age, and my memory of myself in my 20's could very well be wrong. For me, I'm sure there are other things about convent life that would be very hard to adjust to. For example, I dislike wearing shoes and wear them as little as possible when inside, and have been this way all my life. Since spiritually I am not a Poor Clare, being required to wear shoes or sandals all the time, even when inside, would probably be something I'd have to get used to. That's just one small thing I can think of quickly, I suspect that there would be many big things (like obedience!) that, in the end, would make me unsuited for religious life, even if I had a vocation, and didn't have several health issues (such as a sleep disorder that means I can't get by on only 7-8 hours of sleep, but require more) that would make me canonically unfit for religious life.

Edited July 27, 2015 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[vee]

 

I think the cutting of hair (especially when it has been a prized possession) can be beautifully symbolic of giving up what this world offers for love of Christ.

My thoughts and my hair exactly.

I have nice long hair and if it were to be cut for a religious ceremony it would also symbolize the change in family dynamic.  In my family us women always liked to do each others hair as an often enjoyable, but sometimes not, time of bonding.  As a child my mom or sister would braid my hair or put it up in different styles.  Now as an aunt I enjoy that time with my niece as she takes her turn as hair dresser.  To have it cut and covered would then also be me showing that I am giving to God something I love very much that being my family and time with them, for something I love more, Him. 

[marigold]

I did for a while - about a year, maybe two? Took it off at night.

What made you stop?

Actually, I do when I can get away with it. I often wear a baseball-style cap if I am running errands. I've never liked things like sun hats and it would look odd in my community to wear a kerchief etc. But, since I live in the Midwest, wearing some type of headcovering in winter is pretty common. and winter lasts roughly half the year (snow from late Nov (at the latest) to mid-April).

I have very straight, fine hair that I wore long until my mid-20's because that was the style. I had it cut short (and styled) in my mid-20's and wore it that way for many years.My hair looks much better short. Since I've gotten sick and no longer can work, I wear my hair straight and shoulder-length, unstyled. When I leave the house, I pull my hair back in a short ponytail at the nape of my neck. It's not the best hairstyle, but is not terrible, either. Best of all, it's VERY easy and age-appropriate. 

From these posts, everyone is different. I was never that fond of my long hair, so probably would not have felt sad at cutting it. However, I strongly suspect that my current attitude about my hair is a reflection of my age, and my memory of myself in my 20's could very well be wrong. For me, I'm sure there are other things about convent life that would be very hard to adjust to. For example, I dislike wearing shoes and wear them as little as possible when inside, and have been this way all my life. Since spiritually I am not a Poor Clare, being required to wear shoes or sandals all the time, even when inside, would probably be something I'd have to get used to. That's just one small thing I can think of quickly, I suspect that there would be many big things (like obedience!) that, in the end, would make me unsuited for religious life, even if I had a vocation, and didn't have several health issues (such as a sleep disorder that means I can't get by on only 7-8 hours of sleep, but require more) that would make me canonically unfit for religious life.

Interesting.

I hear you on the shoes issue! Wearing shoes indoors was one of those 'big little things' that was really noticeable when I entered my former community. It didn't bother me - actually it made me feel like a superhero ready for action at all times - but there was that 'woah' feeling of doing something I wasn't used to, every day when I dressed to socks and shoes the minute I got up.

I remember one day there was a huge rainstorm and I got soaked to the bone. Actually it may just have been me losing control of the garden hose but the point is everything was drenched, including shoes. It was nearly time for Vespers so I went and had a shower, got into dry clothes and went down to church just in socks. It was super cosy and I remember feeling like I was really at home rather than at work, as I usually did when I had shoes on. When we were lining up to venerate the icons at the end of the service, one of the older nuns prodded me and glared my feet in a jokey-outraged way. Then she went and got me a pair of her shoes to wear to dinner It was a good day.

[MarysLittleFlower]

Interesting thread I think if its painful to give it up that's all the more reason to do it as a sacrifice to Jesus! I have long hair and the one time I had it shorter as an adult I hated it on me. And it wasn't even that short. It starts doing this wave thing that's half wavy half straight and looks messy. I also just prefer long hair. But if I was entering a convent I would want to get it cut and the symbolism is beautiful  

[Sister Leticia]

In my congregation novices had their hair cut really short at their clothing until about 1967. This was part of the ritual but also very practical, given they'd be wearing an under-cap, bonnet and veil, and were expected to wash and dress very quickly. In 1967 the habit was modified, and there was no longer any need to keep hair closely cropped, plus the clothing ceremony was simplified. Hair fashions had changed as well, so more women were entering with short or shorter hair. A few years later the veil became optional.

There's no requirement on us to keep our hair short, but most of us keep it short or shoulder length (as @‌Nunsuch said in an earlier comment). This is a mixture of practicality and simplicity and being "age appropriate" - in a Western cultural context older women tend to keep their hair short. Iggy referred to her short ponytail as "age appropriate", and those of our sisters with longer hair keep it tied back, usually in a simple bun.

(As an aside, our Indian sisters dress in plain saris and deliberately keep their hair long. They wear it in a bun, according to Indian tradition for older/married women. Short hair is more westernised, as is long hair worn loose. An Indian sister once told me that when she entered her hair could barely be pulled back into a pony tail because it had been short, and she was told she had to keep GROWING it until it was long enough to wear in a bun!)

I already had short hair when I entered, as did others of my contemporaries - or else collar length. One of our newer members has long wavy hair which she ties back, and it'll be up to her to determine when and whether to cut it, how short etc - but the other newer sisters and novices have short or collar length hair. Some of us might need to spend longer on our hair because it's thick or curly or unruly or whatever, and we need to look presentable and tidy, and appropriately smart for our ministries. Mostly, though, I'd say our hair and its length isn't an issue for us, which is good and right, as then we can focus on other things.

 

 

[MarysLittleFlower]

I was actually thinking about that... I guess it is more culturally accepted for older women to have short hair in the West. But what about wearing hair up or in a bun? If I was older I'd probably do that (unless I was a nun with a veil of course)

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

Obviously there is no one fashion in the U.S., but in general (although there are LOTS of exceptions) women tend to wear their hair long through their mid- to late-twenties, and somewhere along the way start to wear their hair shorter (although not necessarily "short"). Although there is no rule that women should wear their hair shorter after they get married, a lot of women do tend to wear their hair shorter after marriage, probably because it is easier to take care of when they have children.

In general, women over 40 or 50 don't wear their hair long, but wear it shoulder length or shorter. If they do keep their hair long, they tend to wear it up, although long hair on older women is the exception. However, there are no hard and fast rules about long hair on older women. I think that by the time women reach the age of 40 or 50, they know their hair, and how it looks best, and choose to wear it that way. 

There are some women over 30 who wear their hair up, but not a lot. I think part of this is that, if not styled well, a bun etc is felt to make a woman look older or look frumpy. (Obviously, if styled well, wearing your hair up can be very flattering, depending on the shape of your face.)

I wear my hair shoulder length, but pulled back at the nape of my neck. This isn't necessarily the most flattering style for me, but it is very easy and very cheap--I don't need to get my hair cut very often. Also, I've reached a point where I don't care as much about how I look.

Everything I've said above has exceptions, but one good thing about the U.S. is that I think that in most places a woman has a lot of freedom to find a hair style that looks good on her, and isn't tied to what is fashionable. After all, most magazine models are in their teens or early 20's and fashion doesn't apply as much after age 30. There is a lot of truth in the statement that women in the U.S. become "invisible" after about age 40-50. Rather than find this discouraging, I find it restful. It means that I can wear clothes and hairstyles that suit me and are comfortable. Since I'm "invisible" I don't need to try to stay fashionable. When it doesn't suit me to be "invisible," I am very articulate and can make myself noticed if I choose to. 

[Nunsense]

Actually, I do when I can get away with it. I often wear a baseball-style cap if I am running errands. I've never liked things like sun hats and it would look odd in my community to wear a kerchief etc. But, since I live in the Midwest, wearing some type of headcovering in winter is pretty common. and winter lasts roughly half the year (snow from late Nov (at the latest) to mid-April).

I have very straight, fine hair that I wore long until my mid-20's because that was the style. I had it cut short (and styled) in my mid-20's and wore it that way for many years.My hair looks much better short. Since I've gotten sick and no longer can work, I wear my hair straight and shoulder-length, unstyled. When I leave the house, I pull my hair back in a short ponytail at the nape of my neck. It's not the best hairstyle, but is not terrible, either. Best of all, it's VERY easy and age-appropriate. 

From these posts, everyone is different. I was never that fond of my long hair, so probably would not have felt sad at cutting it. However, I strongly suspect that my current attitude about my hair is a reflection of my age, and my memory of myself in my 20's could very well be wrong. For me, I'm sure there are other things about convent life that would be very hard to adjust to. For example, I dislike wearing shoes and wear them as little as possible when inside, and have been this way all my life. Since spiritually I am not a Poor Clare, being required to wear shoes or sandals all the time, even when inside, would probably be something I'd have to get used to. That's just one small thing I can think of quickly, I suspect that there would be many big things (like obedience!) that, in the end, would make me unsuited for religious life, even if I had a vocation, and didn't have several health issues (such as a sleep disorder that means I can't get by on only 7-8 hours of sleep, but require more) that would make me canonically unfit for religious life.

I'm with you on the shoes thing, Iggy. I love that in Asia, many places require you to take off shoes before entering. I take off my shoes as soon as I enter the house and either wear thick socks (bed socks sometimes) or slippers - but even these can be too much sometimes and I kick them off. I have a pair of slip on shoes next to the front door in case I have to go outside to check the mail, move the rubbish bins etc but no shoes in the house!  I couldn't be a Poor Clare though because they go barefoot and I love socks! My feet get too cold.

And my hair style is probably pretty much like yours - just past my shoulders so I can put it in a pony tail, or leave it out, or put it in a twistie bun. Getting older has its advantages - vanity takes a back seat most of the time.  

[sr.christinaosf]

My thoughts and my hair exactly.

I have nice long hair and if it were to be cut for a religious ceremony it would also symbolize the change in family dynamic.  In my family us women always liked to do each others hair as an often enjoyable, but sometimes not, time of bonding.  As a child my mom or sister would braid my hair or put it up in different styles.  Now as an aunt I enjoy that time with my niece as she takes her turn as hair dresser.  To have it cut and covered would then also be me showing that I am giving to God something I love very much that being my family and time with them, for something I love more, Him. 

Nice...that resonates with me...My mom and my sister and I used to "fool with" each others' hair -it felt good and was relaxing.