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Summary of Question:	Cutting Hair For The Health Of The Hair
Category:	Hair
Date Posted:	Tuesday, 2/05/2002 9:59 AM MST

I have followed guru jee principle all my life about hair. I have long hair below my waist. My hair is all split ends and have been falling. I am not craving to have short hair but I would like to have healthy hair. Maybe in guru jees time pollution was less or for some other reason and people did not face this problem.

Can I not trim them periodically till they become better again. Even while trimming I will still have long hair which I still will have to tie (i.e no difference in my hair style). I truly believe the reason in my mind is not style or fashion but health of my hair. If we did not care for their health why would we use the best conditioner in the market or use other methods to maintain them. It is definitely not the question of not accepting who I am.

I have read repeatedly that the purpose of long hair is to keep the body as God gave us, to not alter it in any way. Then why is a baby operated when he is born with a hole in the heart. I feel we are usually born with healthy hair and body but with age things seem to get worn out and we need to do something to fix them.

If guru jee wanted to all of us (males & females) to wear hair up then how come I have never seen any of the mothers and wives of the guru jee wear turbans. If there was such a scientific reason in the keeping hair and wearing it up how come only sikhs cracked this idea.
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You raise some good questions. I will try to answer them as clearly as I am able.

There is a reason God gave us hair, which has been discussed so many times on Sikhnet. You can go back and read all of the answers from previous moderators.
But, the bottom line is that you have to experience the power of your hair yourself. For me, I believe that my hair has a purpose just like my kidneys or liver. If I cut my hair, that purpose is eliminated or at least reduced. Our hair is living...it grows, falls out and keeps growing and falling out..totally naturally. My hair use to be split, until I started braiding it and tying it up. This will help to protect it from the elements and pollution. The sun and wind and pollutaion are very bad for the hair. But if it is coiled up, it will be protected.

I brush my hair every day and put a conditioner on it when I wash it, 2 times a week. I also oil my hair and skalp the day before I wash it. I haven't cut my hair since I became a Sikh, 32 years ago. My hair is very healthy. What you eat is also very important. If you eat sugar, smoke, take caffeine, eat fatty foods, processed foods (fast foods or things like doughnuts or cakes)...
these things all deprive the body and the hair of the necessary nutrients it needs to be healthy. Eat a diet rich is vitamins and minerals...like fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, yogurt, nuts and seeds... and your body will thrive.

Tying a turbin helps to protect the hair as well. At the first Bisakhi when Guru Gobind Singh asked for a head, men came forward and were given the 5 K's.
It was a reflection of the times. But why shouldn't women benefit the turbin as well? Why to wear a turbin has been answered so many times..just look it up on previous questions and answers. Again, this an experience with which you need to experiment. I feel so much more centered and focused when I wear my turbin. When I wash my hair, I let it dry down, but I am very happy to get it up and under my turbin once again. I have experienced that I think better and am more focuesed. Try it for yourself.

Now as far as babies having surgery, etc. As Sikhs, we don't believe like some other religions that one shouldn't get medical treatment. God and Guru may be working through the doctors, medicines, etc. Who knows what that person's karma is. If if is that person's karma to die or get better, at least doctors are doing everything possible...then its God's call. Its really a very separate issue from your hair.

I hope this answers your questions. GTKK