Important Haircut: Difference between revisions

[[File:mulan4.jpg|link=Mulan|frame|[[Took a Level in Badass|And then she grew a backbone.]] ]]

 

 

When a character cuts off his or her hair, it often symbolizes a rite of passage or bout of character growth. A princess striking out on an adventure, or a new recruit at boot camp, for instance. Hair is something that takes time and effort to grow, so parting with it voluntarily can be a powerful act.

 

{{examples}}

* In ''[[Sket Dance]]'', both Himeko and Switch in their respective Backstories, each for his/her own reasons. Tsubaki also makes such a decision when appearing as a minor character in Bossun's backstory.

* ''[[Sailor Moon]]'': Usagi's hair grows exponentially when she is revealed as the princess in the manga. It is eventually cut back to normal length. In the anime, she almost gets a sorrow haircut upon Minako's suggestion when Mamoru is taken hostage, but the [[Monster of the Week]] apparently makes her forget that she was in the beauty shop for a new 'do.

* When the Civil War finally begins, [[Nikolai Dante]] cuts his hair short (off-panel) to represent his acceptance of the Romanov name. During the Amerika storyline, he finds a poster of himself from his swashbuckling days, and the toll the years have taken on him become painfully apparent.

* One of the gags in ''[[MAD]]'' magazine's "A Mad Look at Hair" features a guy in a business suit bringing a gorilla to a barber; in the next panel, the gorilla, now shaven, is on a football team.

 

== Film ==

* Used in the second season of ''[[The L Word]]'' when Shane gives the newly-out Jenny a short haircut.

* In ''[[NCIS]]'', Gibbs grows a neat, somewhat disturbing moustache after returning from his [[Ten-Minute Retirement]], then shaves it off when he returns to his old self.

* On the "Game Night" episode of ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'', Barney (in his hippie past) gets dumped and gives himself an important haircut and shave.

** Also, between Season 1 and Season 2, Lily leaves and comes back with her trademark red hair dyed black. This was a decision by the actress unrelated to the show, but the creators felt it fit the character, who had just undergone a breakup and other major life changes. The hair remained the same after she got back together with her ex, though.

* In ''[[Deadwood]]'', Mr. Wu cuts off his queue to show his commitment to America and his alliance with Al Swearengen. He later begins wearing western style clothes as well.

* [[The Colbert Report|Stephen Colbert]] had this done on him to prove he'd really gone through (a little) basic training to Commander General Odierno. When Colbert hesitated, ''President [[Barack Obama]] '''[[Crowning Moment of Funny|ordered]]''' Gen. Odierno'' to do it.

* On ''[[Iron Chef]]'', when Kandagawa challenged Sakai for the Millenium rematch battles, he espoused a new philosophy about Japanese cuisine changing (if not quite modernizing - he was a strict Japanese traditionalist chef in his earlier appearances) in order to survive in the 21st century. Embodying this change, he shaved his head to remind him of his new commitment. His perfect, sweep victory over Sakai was a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]].

{{quote|'''Kaga:''' [[Crowning Moment of Funny|May I touch it?]]}}