The way that human beings wear their hair can have many meanings. Beyond conforming to the fashion of the day, a hairdo can be an expression of personal style as well as an expression of religious, cultural, and political beliefs. Because of this, society often has strict rules about how hair should be worn. Those who rebel against society often begin with what are considered outlandish hairstyles. It is no accident that institutions like armies and prisons often initiate new members by cutting off their hair, thus removing this means of individual self-expression and encouraging conformity. From the Biblical story of Samson, who lost his superhuman strength when his hair was cut, to the radical student movements of the 1970s, when men's long hair was considered a revolutionary statement, hair has often been given a far greater significance than any other bodily feature.

Preoccupation with the latest hairstyle...