Trichophilia
Encyclopedia
Trichophilia, hair partialism, or hair fetishism is a paraphilia
in which one becomes sexually aroused
by, or is extremely fond of, human hair; commonly head hair.
Arousal may occur from image
ry and physical contact of hair, this includes head hair, pubic hair
, axillary hair and fur
. Head hair arousal may come from watching or touching very long hair
or shaved heads, hair cutting and head shaving, long bangs
, red hair
, wet hair, new hairstyles, permanent wave etc.
Long hair fetishism as well as haircut fetishism seems to be common, since there are hundreds of web sites and forums devoted to both these forms of fetishisms, based in countries around the world. Especially the haircut fetish is apparently a secret, largely unknown or little discussed by the media, or even acknowledged in Western culture.
There are all cases where the practitioner may be the same sexual orientation or not. For many, the excitement is focused on cutting hair with the other, about themselves, or both. The haircut fetish may also include a sexual preference for women in general, or men with short hair or shaved head.
In order to determine the relative prevalences of different fetishes, scientists obtained a sample of at least 5000 individuals worldwide from 381 Internet discussion groups. The relative prevalences were estimated based on (a) the number of groups devoted to a particular fetish, (b) the number of individuals participating in the groups and (c) the number of messages exchanged. Of the sampled population, 7 percent were turned on by hair (as opposed to 12 for underwear, but only 4 for genitals, 3 for breasts, 2 for buttocks, and less than one for body hair).
, Lorelei
, Sif
and Lady Godiva
, and Samson
and Delilah
strength and/or beauty is associated with long hair. In the Christian, Buddhist and Hindu religions, the tonsure
is an established rite combining deprivation of hair with the purity of the body. In ancient and modern wars, hair clipping or scalping
were always performed. During the wars of Chouannerie in the Vendée region of France, the Chouans had the habit of mowing the republican prisoners. They were later released after taking the oath not to fight against the royalists, and they could be recognized if they betrayed their oath. At the liberation of Paris
in 1945, the women accused of "horizontal collaboration" were arrested, shaved, exhibited and sometimes mauled by the crowds, because of their sexual relationships with Germans, both officers and enlisted men, during the occupation.
Paraphilia
Paraphilia is a biomedical term used to describe sexual arousal to objects, situations, or individuals that are not part of normative stimulation and that may cause distress or serious problems for the paraphiliac or persons associated with him or her...
in which one becomes sexually aroused
Sexual arousal
Sexual arousal, or sexual excitement, is the arousal of sexual desire, during or in anticipation of sexual activity. Things that precipitate human sexual arousal are called erotic stimuli, or colloquially known as turn-ons. There are many potential stimuli, both physical or mental, which can cause...
by, or is extremely fond of, human hair; commonly head hair.
Arousal may occur from image
Image
An image is an artifact, for example a two-dimensional picture, that has a similar appearance to some subject—usually a physical object or a person.-Characteristics:...
ry and physical contact of hair, this includes head hair, pubic hair
Pubic hair
Pubic hair is hair in the frontal genital area, the crotch, and sometimes at the top of the inside of the legs; these areas form the pubic region....
, axillary hair and fur
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
. Head hair arousal may come from watching or touching very long hair
Long hair
Long hair is a hairstyle. Exactly what constitutes long hair can change from culture to culture, or even within cultures. For example, a woman with chin-length hair in some cultures may be said to have short hair, while a man with the same length of hair in some of the same cultures would be said...
or shaved heads, hair cutting and head shaving, long bangs
Fringe (hair)
Fringe are a shaped cutting of the front part of the hair so that it is combed forward and hangs or curls over the forehead. A classic fringe is cut fairly straight at or above the eyebrows, but fringes can also be ragged or ruffled, spiked up with hair gel, swept to one side or the other, and...
, red hair
Red hair
Red hair occurs on approximately 1–2% of the human population. It occurs more frequently in people of northern or western European ancestry, and less frequently in other populations...
, wet hair, new hairstyles, permanent wave etc.
Long hair fetishism as well as haircut fetishism seems to be common, since there are hundreds of web sites and forums devoted to both these forms of fetishisms, based in countries around the world. Especially the haircut fetish is apparently a secret, largely unknown or little discussed by the media, or even acknowledged in Western culture.
Haircut fetishism
A person with a haircut fetish is sexually or emotionally sensitive receiving a haircut, cutting the hair of another person, watching someone perform a haircut, or any combination thereof. The haircut fetish can be male or female. The fetish is common in both sexes but also crosses sexual orientations. For some, the excitement appears exclusively at haircuts come upon a person of the opposite sex. For others, it is exclusive to the cutting of hair on someone of the same sex.There are all cases where the practitioner may be the same sexual orientation or not. For many, the excitement is focused on cutting hair with the other, about themselves, or both. The haircut fetish may also include a sexual preference for women in general, or men with short hair or shaved head.
Scientific study of trichophilia
Hair length is significantly correlated with female attractiveness, as rated by men as well as women. Hair length and quality can act as a cue to especially a woman's youth and health, signifying reproductive potential.In order to determine the relative prevalences of different fetishes, scientists obtained a sample of at least 5000 individuals worldwide from 381 Internet discussion groups. The relative prevalences were estimated based on (a) the number of groups devoted to a particular fetish, (b) the number of individuals participating in the groups and (c) the number of messages exchanged. Of the sampled population, 7 percent were turned on by hair (as opposed to 12 for underwear, but only 4 for genitals, 3 for breasts, 2 for buttocks, and less than one for body hair).
History
The haircut fetish is rooted in ancient Greece, in biblical narratives, in rituals and religious wars. In the mythology and fairytales of RapunzelRapunzel
"Rapunzel" is a German fairy tale in the collection assembled by the Brothers Grimm, and first published in 1812 as part of Children's and Household Tales. The Grimm Brothers' story is an adaptation of the fairy tale Persinette by Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de La Force originally published in 1698...
, Lorelei
Lorelei
The Lorelei is a rock on the eastern bank of the Rhine near St. Goarshausen, Germany, which soars some 120 metres above the waterline. It marks the narrowest part of the river between Switzerland and the North Sea. A very strong current and rocks below the waterline have caused many boat...
, Sif
Sif
In Norse mythology, Sif is a goddess associated with earth. Sif is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, and in the poetry of skalds...
and Lady Godiva
Lady Godiva
Godiva , often referred to as Lady Godiva , was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who, according to legend, rode naked through the streets of Coventry in order to gain a remission of the oppressive taxation imposed by her husband on his tenants...
, and Samson
Samson
Samson, Shimshon ; Shamshoun or Sampson is the third to last of the Judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Tanakh ....
and Delilah
Delilah
Delilah appears only in the Hebrew bible Book of Judges 16, where she is the "woman in the valley of Sorek" whom Samson loved, and who was his downfall...
strength and/or beauty is associated with long hair. In the Christian, Buddhist and Hindu religions, the tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
is an established rite combining deprivation of hair with the purity of the body. In ancient and modern wars, hair clipping or scalping
Scalping
Scalping is the act of removing another person's scalp or a portion of their scalp, either from a dead body or from a living person. The initial purpose of scalping was to provide a trophy of battle or portable proof of a combatant's prowess in war...
were always performed. During the wars of Chouannerie in the Vendée region of France, the Chouans had the habit of mowing the republican prisoners. They were later released after taking the oath not to fight against the royalists, and they could be recognized if they betrayed their oath. At the liberation of Paris
Liberation of Paris
The Liberation of Paris took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of the occupying German garrison on August 25th. It could be regarded by some as the last battle in the Battle for Normandy, though that really ended with the crushing of the Wehrmacht forces between the...
in 1945, the women accused of "horizontal collaboration" were arrested, shaved, exhibited and sometimes mauled by the crowds, because of their sexual relationships with Germans, both officers and enlisted men, during the occupation.
See also
- BarberBarberA barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
- HairHairHair is a filamentous biomaterial, that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Found exclusively in mammals, hair is one of the defining characteristics of the mammalian class....
- HairstyleHairstyleA hairstyle, hairdo, or haircut refers to the styling of hair, usually on the human head. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal grooming, fashion, and cosmetics, although practical, cultural, and popular considerations also influence some hairstyles.-History of...
- Head shavingHead shavingHead shaving is the practice of shaving the hair from a person's head. At different times and places people have shaved their heads for very diverse reasons: practical, religious, cultural, or aesthetic—so a shaven head has widely varying connotations depending on the context.-Early...
- Mohawk hairstyleMohawk hairstyleThe mohawk is a hairstyle in which, in the most common variety, both sides of the head are shaven, leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair...
- TonsureTonsureTonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
- ShavingShavingShaving is the removal of hair, by using a razor or any other kind of bladed implement, to slice it down to the level of the skin. Shaving is most commonly practiced by men to remove their facial hair and by women to remove their leg and underarm hair...
- RazorRazorA razor is a bladed tool primarily used in the removal of unwanted body hair through the act of shaving. Kinds of razors include straight razors, disposable razors and electric razors....
- Sexual attractionSexual attractionSexual attractiveness or sex appeal refers to an individual's ability to attract the sexual or erotic interest of another person, and is a factor in sexual selection or mate choice. The attraction can be to the physical or other qualities or traits of a person, or to such qualities in the context...
- Sexual fetishismSexual fetishismSexual fetishism, or erotic fetishism, is the sexual arousal a person receives from a physical object, or from a specific situation. The object or situation of interest is called the fetish, the person a fetishist who has a fetish for that object/situation. Sexual fetishism may be regarded, e.g...