Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim!
According to the Sunnah, it is believed that shaving the hair on the head of a newborn male child is necessary on the seventh day after his birth. After the relatives have shaved the child’s head, gold and silver corresponding to the weight of the shaved hair must be distributed as alms to the poor. Many Muslims disagree on whether the Sunnah refers to a newborn female child or not. We will clarify this issue below, and also find out whether this ritual is beneficial for the baby’s health or not.
How does a newborn's hair grow?
A child's hair begins to grow during fetal development.
This occurs at the beginning of the third trimester of pregnancy. In this case, the presence or absence of hair is determined by genetic predisposition. As for the final color and density of curls, these characteristics appear only by 3-4 years. After birth, the baby's head is covered with so-called vellus hair, which thins noticeably in the first three months of the child's life. This is due to the thickness of the hair and a poorly formed root bulb. Washing your hair, wearing a hat, and rubbing your hair against a pillow speeds up the turnover of vellus hair.
The second time the hair is renewed between 3 and 6 months. During this period, the baby grows something between vellus and shaft hair.
Opinions
The controversy over hair cutting will probably never subside. The opposing sides have a lot of arguments, mainly based on rumors, traditions and superstitions.
- The older generation believes that if a newborn is shaved as quickly as possible, the child's hair will certainly be thick and strong.
- The tradition of cutting a child's head for the first time a year and later dates back to the old rite. It was believed that before this time it was impossible to do anything with the baby’s hair, since this would threaten the baby up to a year with health problems that would accompany him throughout his life.
- Parents whose children cannot boast of any curls even after a year hope to stimulate hair growth by shaving their baby’s head.
But, as we know, cutting or shaving cannot increase the number of hair follicles provided by nature. Also, cutting off a fuzz does not “replace” it with coarse hair, but only demonstrates the natural replacement of a newborn’s thin hairline with “normal” hair in a one-year-old child.
Doctors recommend gradually cutting off the baby’s hair, starting from 4 months, cutting off excess curls when they begin to interfere with the baby’s eyes or make his neck sweat. You can cut your baby’s hair either discreetly, while bathing or playing, or explicitly, like an adult, by sitting the child in a chair.
Is it possible to shave a baby's hair?
In the old days, this method of ridding a baby of hair was considered the most acceptable. Our ancestors were sure that shaving hair in infancy would guarantee the baby beautiful and thick hair in adulthood. However, modern pediatrics does not approve of shaving children's hair.
Doctors' concerns are caused by the possibility of damage to the hair follicle. And if there are milky crusts on the baby’s head, then you can injure the delicate scalp and cause an infection. That is why haircutting is considered the safest for an infant. We'll talk about it further.
When to shave a newborn's hair
From Samra bin Jundub (radiallahu alayhi) it is reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Every newborn is a hostage to his “aqiqa”, which should be performed on the seventh day after birth, give him a name on this day and shave his head " According to this hadith, parents should shave the hair on the head of their child after his birth, however, many say that this hadith is associated only with male newborns and does not talk about female ones. Others say that this hadith applies not only to boys, but also to girls. Experts in Islamic law disagree on this issue: the followers of Imam Malik (Maliki) and Imam Shafi'i (Shafi'i) believe that it is necessary to shave the head of a newborn girl, just like a boy. “Fatima weighed the hair of Hasan, Hussein, Zeinab and Umm Kulthum and paid silver equal to the weight of these hairs as alms” (Imam Malik); followers of Imam Ibn Hanbal (Hanbalites) believe that a girl does not need to shave her head.
In both cases, if the child is a boy or a girl, according to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it is advisable to shave the head of the newborn, but the parents of the child may not do this if they correctly assess their capabilities and are not able to do so. You need to shave using a razor or razor blade. Care should be taken to ensure that shaving does not cause cuts or wounds on the head.
How to cut a child's hair for the first time?
If you decide to do it yourself, prepare scissors, a comb and a spray bottle of water to moisten your curls. Start cutting your hair at the temples and bangs - these are the areas that most often require emergency intervention.
Sprinkle your hair with water, divide it into strands, and then carefully trim the unnecessary length using a comb. After the haircut, it is advisable to give the baby a bath. This is necessary so that cut hair that gets under clothes does not cause irritation.
Before starting the procedure, make sure that the child has had enough sleep and does not want to eat. The outcome of your hairdressing experiment largely depends on the baby’s mood. And to prevent your child from being capricious, turn haircutting into an exciting game. For example, you can first do the hair of a teddy bear, and only then trim the bangs of the baby.
At the same time, do not forget to explain to your son or daughter that hair grows very quickly, and it needs to be cut so that it does not interfere with the child’s play, eating and other daily activities. We are sure that with this approach, a child’s first haircut will go smoothly!
Photo: depositphotos
To shave or not to shave? Why do parents still cut their babies hair?
Why they still shave children at the age of one and what tradition will replace this one - the journalist and mother Evgenia Artamonov looked into it.
Photo: depositphotos/Patryk_Kosmider
Not long ago, a friend of mine shaved her one-year-old son’s head. I don’t know why, for the sake of old traditions - “so that hair grows better” - or simply for the purpose of minimal care for the baby’s hair, but it really surprised me. I thought this approach was a thing of the past. It turns out not.
As a child, I, like many, could not avoid a similar fate. Little Zhenya looks out from old photographs in a beautiful dress and with a headscarf hiding her bald head. According to my mother, my grandmother insisted on this. Mom then, 28 years ago, was against it. But the pressure from relatives prevailed. What if she hadn’t given in to persuasion? Perhaps by 5 I would already have a waist-length braid.
What do they say on the Internet? Perhaps in five to ten years this “tradition” will become archaic. But now, judging by the experiences shared by mothers in Facebook communities, it has not yet become a thing of the past. Messages in thematic surveys from those who are in favor amount to 20–30%. Why is this today? Some cut their children's hair under the influence of relatives.
Some people think that curls disturb the baby or simply do not look aesthetically pleasing: baby fluff grows unevenly and often sticks out in different directions. Others shave just in case it gets better.
Where did it all come from? It turned out that the roots of this popular belief go back to the war and post-war years. Back then, children were shaved bald for hygiene purposes. In difficult living conditions, countries tried to prevent the development of pediculosis and lichen. Over time, it simply became familiar and fashionable.
Photo: depositphotos/BonNontawat
What do the experts say? Today, pediatricians and trichologists almost unanimously say that such a procedure will not make things worse or better. Hair basically changes as a child grows. Thick or sparse is entirely a matter of genetics. But psychologically it can really do harm. Not all kids calmly accept manipulations with their heads. Especially at such a young age. I didn't shave my son. The first haircut was about a year old. In a specialized children's hairdresser. They even put a small lock of hair in a bag and gave us a memorial paper. To do this, it is not necessary to get rid of all hair. In my opinion, an excellent alternative to the old tradition.
Also today, a new trend is relevant - a return to the roots: do not cut your hair at all until the child himself wants to do it. Both boys and girls. Many parents believe that hair contains inner strength. And, to be honest, this approach is also very close to me.
And indeed, previously in Rus' people did not touch their hair until adolescence. It was believed that they had strength. They cut off only a lock of hair per year (not completely bald), as a kind of ritual - few lived to this age. Then they were kept as a talisman and amulet.
Imagine, perhaps our children, when they become adults, will look at their photographs and be surprised at their thick hair.
I wonder what will be in fashion next?
How to cut hair
- It is better to do a haircut at home for the first time; the procedure itself may be uncomfortable for the child, and sharing a hairdresser with strangers can lead to hysterics in a one-year-old baby;
- Are you afraid to cut your baby's hair yourself for the first time? You can go to the salon with him in advance and watch what is happening. When the baby gets used to the atmosphere and employees of the hairdressing salon, he will probably want to sit in the chair in front of the mirror by himself;
- During a haircut, it is important that the baby is calm and the process itself does not cause him discomfort. Children feel our fear and uncertainty very well and adopt our state, so during the procedure you need to overcome your worries and be calm;
- talk to the baby when you cut his hair; especially restless and capricious babies can be distracted with a rattle or cartoons;
- It is better to cut a child’s hair with scissors with blunt ends, so that when the baby twitches, you do not injure him;
- If the baby is not afraid, you can cut it with a clipper with an attachment that leaves the maximum length on the baby’s head. Shaving close to zero can damage the skin and follicles. To prevent the boy from being scared, you can begin to accustom him to the sound of a working device in advance. Call him when you want to cut your dad’s or grandfather’s hair with a clipper, pay attention to how interesting the hair falls to the floor and how handsome your relatives become after a haircut;
- don’t try to give your baby a model haircut a year, the baby is unlikely to have enough perseverance and patience for it, it’s enough to just cut off the interfering curls;
- after finishing the haircut, be sure to show the baby to himself in the mirror, draw his attention to how neat his head has become;
- one of the cut-off locks can be kept as a keepsake by putting it in a “children’s” box, which will contain tags from the maternity hospital, the first tooth that fell out and other objects dear to the mother’s heart;
Child's haircut in modern conditions
Nowadays, it is difficult to find arguments in favor of shaving a one-year-old child. It has long been proven that hair thickness depends only on genetic factors. Shave your baby at least every day, but if the parents and grandparents have thin and sparse hair, then the heir will have the same. And it’s one thing for a boy to have his hair cut bald, but for a girl to have a shaved head is quite another. This phenomenon is unlikely to touch anyone. Haircut is a completely different matter. Whether it is necessary to cut a child's hair when he is one year old is a completely different question.
It is definitely worth reducing your hair length in the hot season. The fewer of them there are on the head, the easier the baby will endure the sweltering heat. Hair grows unevenly, it can get into your eyes and cause discomfort. In addition, hair covering the eyes can lead to poor vision. After all, babies are just learning to focus on objects. You should at least trim your bangs. Do you want your baby to be fashionable, stylish and beautiful on his first holiday? Then you shouldn’t wonder whether you can cut your hair on your birthday. It is better to choose the time and method of cutting.
