Cultivating and Contesting the Spiritual Meaning of Male Hair: An Introduction

Abstract This thematic cluster aims to advance the methodology for hair interpretations in historical settings with attention to theories and practices specifically dedicated to male hair—which, despite recent interest, still remains relatively understudied—and via a focus on one particular and important axis of significance: religion. We address the grooming of male hair from late antique to early modern Europe, focusing especially on theories of differentiation of Christian from pagan grooming with attention to monastic and ecclesiastical practices, with comparanda from the Jewish and Muslim communities. We aim to deepen our understanding of how head, face, and body hair belonging to men acquired religious meaning; how shaving, waxing, cutting, and other forms of grooming interact with, and define, religious discourses; and how theological concerns intersect with the practicalities and technologies of hair maintenance.