Why do men like using their hair as a motivational tool?

Question

This article, about professional athletes promising to wax their back hair for charity or stop shaving until someone wins or shave their heads as a team for solidarity, asks that question. And I'm wondering, too.

http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/06/19/hair.today.gone.tomorrow/index.html

I've seen it in real life, too, not just with athletes. My brother just shaved his head in solidarity with a friend with cancer. A work friend protested changes to the dress code by getting several guys to bleach their hair along with him, which made everyone wonder if we were in Sweden or something. Even gay and bi men do it--a friend of mine didn't shave until his boyfriend got a new job.

So guys, what *is* it?

Answer 1

Well for one it's a way to visibly show your feelings that's not at all permanent. Hair grows back or can be cut whenever you want.

I had a coworker whose 7-year old son went through chemotherapy, and he decided he was going to show his son that they looked like they were going through it together. A lot of the men in the department shaved their heads too. Also, a lot of women cut their hair short to show their feelings and support too.