Coronavirus: Why are many people shaving their heads?

The coronavirus lockdown has seen people across the UK adapt to a new and unusual way of life – including some who are shaving their heads.

With barbers and hairdressers closed, the bored and adventurous have taken the plunge to try a new look and have been sharing photos of their newly buzzed scalps online.

Paul McErlean, 22, from Lavey, south Derry, is one of those who has adopted the look and believes shaved heads could become a symbol of the crisis.

He told Sky News: “I decided to shave my head partly because I was in need of a haircut and partly because of the social distancing boredom!

“A few of my friends had already shaved their heads and I thought I would do it myself. My mother protested at the idea and isn’t happy at all that I shaved it but my father was the one who shaved it for me so I guess he doesn’t mind!”

He added: “Before shaving my head it was maybe six weeks or more since my last haircut so it was getting too long and untidy. I quite like my new look, I think it makes me look a bit like Dermot Kennedy! But the lads don’t see it.

“I think buzz cuts and shaved heads have quickly become a symbol of the COVID-19 crisis and only more people are going to shave their heads as long as barbers remain closed.”

Sam Launder, 27, a restaurant manager from Oxford, also took the plunge.

He told Sky News: “At the tender age of 27 and with a rapidly receding hairline already in tow, having a grade three all over is not something I readily contemplated.

“Yet, with lockdown upon us and a mop of hair on the horizon after not having a trim for six weeks, I was pretty much left with no choice.”

His family got in on the head shaving action. He said: “Friends and family on the whole have been supportive. Although the slightly bizarre head shaving ceremony where family members sat round in a circle as shaving commenced is not something I’d like to endure again anytime soon.”

The lockdown buzzcut is also being taken up by women.

Marie Le Conte, journalist and author of Haven’t You Heard?, posted four pictures of her new hair on to Twitter. The post has been liked more than 2,000 times.

She told Sky News: “I usually have quite a neat short haircut, which I realised very quickly would not survive the two or three months of lockdown.

“My options were either to cut my hair myself – which I quickly decided would be too tricky – or to shave it all off and hope for the best.”

It wasn’t an impulsive move, she explains, saying: “To be completely honest, I’d always wanted to know what I’d looked like with a shaved head so this just gave me a convenient excuse to do it, with the reassurance that if it looked awful, no one would ever have to know.

“As it happens, I’m actually really liking it so who knows? It may just be my hairstyle for the foreseeable.”

Celebrities have also been getting in on the new style.

This Is England actor Stephen Graham uploaded a video of him getting “lockdown locks”, and Riz Ahmed, who starred in Four Lions, posted a picture of his newly-shaved head with the caption: “Anyone else do a #Stayhome haircut that got outta hand? Least now it feels like there’s someone else here when I look in mirror.”

However, Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness urged people to step away from the clippers.

He posted a picture of his hair pulled back and warned: “This is officer Van Ness. Don’t try new lewks during quarentine ” [sp].

As Britain settles down for what remains of the lockdown period, Le Conte has some advice for anyone considering copying the lockdown buzzcut.

“I absolutely would recommend it to people – it felt very freeing and fun, and the stakes are incredibly low as we’re not going to be seeing each other for at least two months.

“What do you have to lose?”

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Why are many people shaving their heads?