Christian monks live a life of simplicity and contemplation. They are not required to work in order to support themselves, so they have time for prayer and reading the Bible. The monastic tradition has been around since the third century – when Christian ascetics started living apart from society in remote areas like caves or on mountainsides. Monks and nuns today lead a less intense lifestyle than their predecessors but still maintain many of the same practices: they wear plain clothes, eat simple foods (usual vegetables), sleep on hard surfaces, and recite prayers each day.
Nuns and monks do not need to shave their heads in the Christian tradition. However, men and women typically receive modest haircuts before they enter a monastic community. The shaving of a monastic head is called tonsuring, and the practice has ceased to be a requirement in the Catholic church.
Monks don’t usually talk about their way of life with outsiders; however, some choose to be more open about what it means to them by writing books or blogs about it.
Why Do Nuns Shave Their Heads?
Many religions have religious clothing, hairstyles, and color choices that are different from the mainstream. In some Eastern Orthodox Churches, nuns wear veils when they go in the church. When a Catholic nun has a private audience with a Pope or high-ranking bishop, they must meet in a large room where they can be seen by everyone else, but no one is allowed to look directly at them.
When women become nuns, they cut their hair very short because it mirrors how Jesus wore his hair when he was on earth. At the same time, it shows that the person’s life is dedicated purely to God and not to earthly pleasures such as vanity over appearance.
In Christianity, this practice of cutting off long hair started during medieval times, when noblewomen would shave their heads and wear wimples to show that they had no interest in marrying and were devoted to God.
When a woman becomes a nun, she is making the vow to strictly follow the word of the Bible, and in the Bible, it says that long hair is for women who are still attached to earthly pleasures such as getting married, so when Catholic nuns cut off their hair they are showing that they want nothing to do with earthly pleasures or vanity, just as Jesus wanted.
Nuns often shave their heads because the practice shows how selfless and devoted they are towards their religion and God. It can also be seen as a sign of pronouncement devoting one’s life purely toward religion rather than having any attachment for worldly goods or vanity.
People who are not familiar with religious practices may wonder why nuns shave their heads. When a woman becomes a nun, they must go through many changes, including cutting their hair very short because it is seen as following the path of Jesus Christ by showing devotion to God rather than earthly pleasures.
Does a Nun Have to Be a Virgin?
Many people in the world like to look for deeper meaning when pondering questions. Such questions can range from simple curiosity, like “Is chocolate bad for you?” or difficult quandaries that circle around philosophy and religion; for example, “Does a Nun Have to Be a Virgin?”
This question is asked because of the common assumption by society that people who choose a life dedicated to God are going to follow all his commandments. However, this broad question is answered with a yes and a no by two very different religions, Catholicism and Buddhism.
A nun that follows Catholic tradition must be celibate if she wants to serve as an official member of the nunnery. This means abstaining from sex of any kind until one’s death through celibacy, a life of chastity, or abstinence from sensual pleasures. Celibacy means to “voluntarily refrain from marriage for religious reasons” (Webster).
In Buddhism, however, celibacy is not required by any commandments. In fact, the Buddhist religion even encourages sex as a way to promote fertility and produce karma. Karma, which can be thought of as fate, is one of the most important aspects of Buddhism. A person’s actions affect their fate, and this cycle goes on over and over again until that person reaches enlightenment. Only then will they have achieved ultimate peace with themselves and have rid themselves of their karma.
Do Nuns Get Haircuts?
To become a nun, a woman must make a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Adherents to these vows are known as nuns.
A nun’s traditional attire is called a habit or religious dress. A nun’s headdress consists of a veil over the head and an accompanying bandeau that covers much of the forehead. In addition, they will typically wear wimple and guimpe which cover the neck and chin respectively. In many cases, their entire face is hidden from view by these items of clothing – this was recently witnessed when Kim Kardashian famously donned her sister’s clothes in order to keep them out of the public eye last week. However, it appears there may be some flaw in this theory…
If you are unsure why exactly this is, then you are probably not aware that nuns are essentially forced to have their heads completely shaved upon entering the religious order. The only exceptions being nuns who are suffering from a skin condition or another illness which will prevent hair regrowth – even in these cases, it is usually prescribed that their hair is to be kept short enough so as to make no difference either way.
This gives rise to one of the most common questions regarding what nuns do when they get haircuts… Do Nuns Get Haircuts?
The simple answer is yes, although there are exceptions for example if a nun suffers from an illness preventing her from growing hair back then she must still follow the regulations.
Do Sisters Shave Their Heads?
Shaving one’s head is a very personal choice, and there are many reasons why people choose to shave their heads. People shave for religious beliefs, practicality when swimming or playing sports, ease in caring for the hair, or even just because they want to. There exist some cultures where shaving one’s head has been the norm for hundreds of years. In these situations, it is not usually a choice. There are also groups that encourage sisters to shave their heads together in solidarity with each other.
Sisters who have decided to go ahead and try shaving usually end up continuing once they’ve started. Shave hair grows back quickly enough that maintaining a shaved look isn’t difficult at all!
In fact, keeping your head shaved often results in an overall smoother look and feel. With no hair to trap sweat or dirt, there is less chance for irritation or breakouts on the scalp, which many sisters have found results in healthier-looking skin.
The monks at this monastery are determined to make a difference in the world and we hope that you will join them. We invite you to visit, pray with us, or consider donating your time or money. If not for yourself, then do it as an act of kindness to those who need our help now more than ever before.
