It’s all the rage nowadays to go by the lunar calendar when picking the best day for a task. Here, I want to look at deciding when to have your hair cut – always a vital issue, and not only for the ladies.
For instance, let’s say I’m fed up of shaving. I could try shaving on days that are unfavorable for regrowth, and then in theory I would need to shave less often.
Let’s get one thing out of the way at the start: is it true? Does it really work? A search of the literature doesn’t yield an answer. There is no proper statistical evidence such as a psychological or medical study might provide, while the available books are mostly a rather odd bunch and of very poor quality. All this naturally invites a certain skepticism about the whole topic.
Then again, the placebo effect and the empirical method are as valid as ever, so let’s get started!
Rami Bleckt on hair-cutting
One author who does inspire a certain degree of confidence is Rami Bleckt. His book on Vedic astrology, or “Jyotish”, is recommended by David Frawley, an Ayurvedic expert well-known in yogic circles, as being worth a read.
Bleckt’s book has this to say about choosing a day for cutting hair:
"For instance, if you have your hair cut while the moon is waxing, your hair will grow back very quickly, and if the Moon also happens to be in Leo, it will grow very thick. If the moon is waning (and especially if it is in Capricorn), your hair will grow back at a noticeably slower rate, and more thinly."
According to this version, then, the moon just has to be waxing, and the the most favorable time is when the moon is in Leo.
Johanna Paungger on hair-cutting
Paungger’s books are quite popular, they have been printed in large quantities.
She writes: “In my home in Tyrol there used to be very few men with bald heads. Perhaps the reason for that was from a baby’s very first haircut people always looked out for a Leo (Moon) Day.”
According to Paungger, the most favorable times for cutting hair are when the moon is in Leo or Virgo. Hair-cutting is to be avoided when the moon is in Pisces or Cancer.
Here are a couple of hair-care tips from Paungger:
- Use fairly cool water for the final rinse. If it feels cold on your scalp, it is at the right temperature.
- If you use a hair-dryer, try to wait at least 15 minutes - and preferably longer - after washing before you dry your hair. Never blow-dry “against the nap” or on too hot a setting.
But does it really work?
In the absence of official studies, it is hard to say for certain. Modern authors often claim that, because “our ancestors believed in it”, and “a multitude of people have now tried it and found that it works”, the idea of good and bad hair-cutting days must really work.
Then again, our ancestors were equally convinced that the Earth was flat. This doesn’t alter the fact that it is round.
For the purposes of this article, therefore, I prefer to leave you, the reader, to make up your own mind. There may be some benefit just in increased awareness and people taking more trouble over their hair care, as this alone will improve growth and appearance even if there is no other effect. And following the lunar cycle can undoubtedly help you do that.
In the absence of official studies, it is hard to say for certain. Modern authors often claim that, because “our ancestors believed in it”, and “a multitude of people have now tried it and found that it works”, the idea of good and bad hair-cutting days must really work.
If you don’t like using bots (although they are very easy to use, and work on both phones and PCs), use our special calendar. Click here for our tried and tested 2017 hair-cutting calendar >>
Keep track of the dates and book your hairdresser’s appointment in good time
You can set up a reminder to be sent to your messaging app once a month, showing which days are favorable for cutting hair. It takes less than a minute to do and needs no configuration – just click on the PrediApp helper bot icon to get your reminders in Facebook or Telegram.
