The Jewish Haircut: Humility, Identity, and Halachic Boundaries

In the 1980s many of our boys grew a long tail called a "tzama."
In the 1990s the “step haircut” dominated. Today many young men shave the sides of their head and leave a strip of hair in the center — a style I call the “donkey haircut” (a Mohawk, in modern terms).

Various fashions have come and gone regarding haircuts and hairstyles. And although sometimes it seems like “just another trend” (usually not a very flattering one), it turns out that from a Jewish perspective, these styles raise serious halachic concerns — not just from one angle.

What actually defines a Jewish haircut?

Three Main Halachic Principles

“There are three major prohibitions that guide us regarding a proper Jewish haircut,” explains Rabbi Gad Lior.

1. ‘Do Not Round the Corners of Your Head’ – Keeping the Payot

This is a direct commandment from the Torah. One may not shave or remove the sideburn area — the payot, in any manner, neither with a razor nor with an electric shaver.

There is a halachic debate about the exact amount of hair that must remain, but at minimum, one must leave at least half a centimeter of hair. The payot area is defined as the space from the hairline at the forehead down to the middle of the ear.

2. ‘A Man Shall Not Wear Women’s Clothing’ – Anything Considered Feminine

Under this category falls anything clearly associated with women.

For example, the halacha states that a man may not dye his hair in ways considered feminine, since this is viewed as “the actions of women.”

3. Hairstyles Associated With Non-Jewish Practices or With Arrogance

This includes hairstyles categorized as “following the ways of the nations”, or styles that display pride or vanity.

The Shulchan Aruch gives three examples:

1. Growing long hair like women — some poskim say this includes Mohawk-type styles, which emphasize long hair in one area.

2. Shaving the sides and leaving hair only in the middle — essentially the common modern “youth” hairstyles.

3. Shaving the head and leaving long strands or tails in the back — short in front, long in back.

Any kind of exaggerated front crest or dramatic fringe is also prohibited because it conveys arrogance.

Is Having a Slightly Longer Fringe a Problem?

“No,” Rabbi Lior clarifies. The Shulchan Aruch refers specifically to a large, prominent crest. The guiding principle, as the Rambam writes, is that a person should look clean, respectable, and not adopt a haircut that expresses vanity or pride.

What About Balding Men Who Shave Their Head?

There is no problem shaving the entire head — even with a razor, as long as the sideburn/payot area is not shaved. According to the Torah this area must not be removed.

A permissible alternative is to cut the whole head short — not shaved to zero, leaving at least half a centimeter all around.

Why Must the Payot Be Left Intact?

Removing the payot is perhaps the least intuitively understood prohibition. “Maybe historically this was a hairstyle of idol worshipers,” Rabbi Lior suggests. “According to Kabbalah, the hair of the payot symbolizes divine kindness.”

Many Hasidim grow long payot not because halacha requires it, but to visibly show that they not only avoid shaving them — they emphasize them with pride.

The Ben Ish Chai writes that prominent payot are like witnesses testifying that a person is Jewish.

A Jewish haircut should not scream for attention and should not express ego — like a rooster flaunting its comb.

“When a person walks around with a simple, normal haircut,” says Rabbi Lior, “it reflects humility and modesty — and it also significantly influences a person's inner behavior.”