Trichophilia

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 imagery 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.

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.^[1] Hair length and quality can act as a cue to especially a woman's youth and health, signifying reproductive potential.^[2]

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).^[3][4]

History

The haircut fetish is rooted in ancient Greece, in biblical narratives, in rituals and religious wars. In the mythology and fairytales of Rapunzel, 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.

See also

• Barber
• Hair
• Hairstyle
• Head shaving
• Mohawk hairstyle
• Tonsure
• Shaving
• Razor
• Sexual attraction
• Sexual fetishism

References

1. ^ Grammer et al, 2002
2. ^ Verlin B. Hinsza, David C. Matzb and Rebecca A. Patiencec, "Does women's hair signal reproductive potential?", Journal of Experimental Social Psychology [0022-1031] 2001, vol 37, iss 2, pg 166.
3. ^ Scorolli, C; Ghirlanda, S; Enquist, M; Zattoni, S; Jannini, E A (2007). "Relative prevalence of different fetishes". International Journal of Impotence Research 19 (4): 432–7. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3901547. PMID 17304204. 
4. ^ Dobson, Roger. "Heels are the world's No 1 fetish". The Independent (London). http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/article2303022.ece. Retrieved 1 February 2007. 

External links

• TA77.net - videos for the hair enthusiast.
• Extreme Haircut - A female hair fetish.
• Lemantoman - Gay haircut fetish site.
• Men's Hair - A club for men into other men's head hair.