Dr. Komarovsky on children”s hair and whether it is necessary to cut a child”s head bald at one year

A lot of parents wonder if their one-year-old child’s hair needs to be cut completely bald. This long-standing custom has generated controversy; some say it encourages healthier hair growth, while others say it is needless. What do experts, however, say about it?

The renowned pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky frequently offers his advice on typical child care queries. He advises parents to be pragmatic when it comes to shaving their baby’s head, putting the child’s comfort and health first rather than adhering to outmoded traditions.

Knowing what factors actually affect a child’s hair growth can help parents make better decisions. Regarding the question of whether this tradition is still beneficial to children today, Dr. Komarovsky provides clear guidance.

About children"s hair

While some babies are nearly bald at birth, others have an amazing head of hair. This is dependent upon both the rate of hair growth during intrauterine development and congenital characteristics. However, because a newborn’s baby hair gradually changes to a more formed structure in the early months of life, partial hair loss is accepted as the normal.

Baby hair differs from adult hair in that it lacks the developed medulla, a tiny microscopic rod that is in charge of the hair’s primary job of retaining heat. Hence, baby hair does not at all warm his head. Evgeny Komarovsky, however, says this isn’t a good enough excuse to heap on the accolades. Due to his increased blood circulation, the baby won’t freeze. Babies’ heads sweat first because the brain receives a quarter of their blood volume for this intense process.

Myths and truth

• “Hair should not be cut before one year” is a myth. If a child has thick hair, and it is July heat outside and the head sweats, then it is more hygienic and healthier to cut the baby"s hair. No one has proven the connection between future luck and the first baby curls, as well as the fact that it is through hair that the emotional connection between the baby and the mother is realized.
• “A child"s head needs to be washed more often with baby soap” is a myth, and a rather dangerous one, warns Evgeny Komarovsky. Daily washing your hair with soap, even hypoallergenic, baby soap, can lead to hair loss, and not to their active growth. The doctor recommends washing your hair with detergents no more than once a week.

• “You need to comb your baby more often” is a myth. Frequent combing, although it may be enjoyable for some children, damages the hair.
• “You need to strengthen your hair with herbal decoctions” is a myth. Komarovsky calls it a commercially profitable rumor. It is profitable for manufacturers and sellers of various herbal and herbal-based products. Weak hair cannot be strengthened. You can avoid damaging it.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, a child’s hair does not need to be cut bald at one year old for reasons related to health or hair growth. He explains that shaving a baby’s head won’t make their hair grow faster or thicker because hair structure and growth are genetically determined. The choice of whether or not to cut a child is primarily a cultural one, and parents should put their child’s comfort and hygiene before out-of-date myths.

Should you shave your head bald at one year of age?

The most frequent query for Evgeny Komarovsky is this one. Families engage in real conflict over this issue because mothers worry about it even more and fathers, who are less prone to mystification, do not give it the attention it deserves. In addition to wondering if cutting their child’s hair at one year old is a good idea, parents also want to know where and how to properly dispose of their baby’s hair to avoid jinxing, offending, or having his "life force stolen."

According to Evgeny Komarovsky, a one-year-old toddler won’t be harmed by a haircut alone. But if your hair was thin and straight before the age of one, you shouldn’t expect it to grow thick and curly. Long before the baby is born, the texture, color, density, and growth rate of hair are all mapped out at the genetic level.

The set of genes that determines everything, including the baby’s hair thickness and color, is tightly defined as soon as the egg is fertilized.

Therefore, nothing in the genetic code can be altered by shaving or cutting the head bald, and as a result, these changes have no effect on the quality of the hair. Evgeny Komarovsky claims that the hairs growing back after a bald haircut appear more voluminous and seem harder to the touch, giving relatives the impression that the hair has grown stronger and thicker. However, this is just an illusion. Thus, it is up to the parents to determine whether to stop at one year or not. Nothing bad will happen if the baby is not trimmed, just as no miracle will occur if it is discovered.

Use as much creativity as possible, suggests Komarovsky, when deciding where to put the chopped hair. Please, bury it under the pear tree in the garden under the full moon. It’s also okay if you want to burn it and scatter the ashes across the river. Considering that medical science has not established a link between a child’s outcome and their haircut. Seekers of such a connection should speak with healers, magicians, or shamans on this matter.

Why does the back of the head go bald?

Dr. Komarovsky is asked this question more frequently than any other. Before the age of one year, a bald spot on the back of the head is thought by many parents and even pediatricians to be an indication of rickets. According to Evgeny Komarovsky, rickets is unrelated to baldness on the occipital region of the head. The majority of a baby’s life, up to six months of age, is spent lying down. He starts to actively use his new ability when he can turn his head side to side. Hair just wipes off when it rubs against the bed.

Should you wear hats and bonnets?

If your hair is falling out all over your head, it could be due to malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, or chronic scalp overheating, which poses a risk to all babies whose grandmothers and parents are accustomed to wearing hats on their young children. After removing bonnets to allow the scalp to "breathe," it’s likely that no further action will be required because hair loss will cease and the quality of the hair will soon noticeably improve.

Additionally, during the child’s illness, hats should be avoided. When a child wears a bonnet at a high temperature, Komarovsky claims that there is nowhere for the child to "dump" extra heat. This can lead to very dangerous situations.

Possible problems

Although there is a long list of pathological disorders affecting hair growth, Evgeny Komarovsky believes that all mothers should be aware of them:

• ringworm (hair falls out a lot, in some places the bald spots look like they have been cut). This fungal disease should be treated by a pediatric infectious disease specialist;
• alopecia (hair falls out due to severe immune-allergic pathologies). With this type of baldness, the hair roots are damaged. A pediatrician and an allergist will treat the disease;
• obsessive-compulsive disorder (the child damages his hair mechanically – by twisting it around his finger, pulling it out, plucking it). Rarely needs treatment, neurosis often goes away on its own, but a consultation with a pediatric neurologist, psychologist and psychiatrist will not hurt;
• stress, fears, emotional trauma (hair growth is disrupted at the biochemical level, as well as as a result of spasm of the blood vessels of the scalp). You should contact a pediatrician and a pediatric neurologist with the problem;

• avitaminosis (hair loss is greatly affected by a deficiency of B vitamins and zinc). You should contact your pediatrician with this problem;
• hypervitaminosis (hair loss and brittleness as a result of an overdose of vitamins, in particular excessive consumption of vitamin A). Discussed with a pediatrician;
• medicinal "side effects" (some medications cause problems with the condition of the hair). The phenomenon is temporary, does not particularly require treatment, but you can discuss it with your pediatrician;
• hypothyroidism (hair loss due to thyroid problems). Endocrinologist treats.

Dr. Komarovsky highlights that shaving a child’s head bald at one year old is not medically justified. Not the frequency or length of hair cuts, but rather genetics and general health, play a major role in determining hair growth and thickness.

He adds that parents shouldn’t worry too much if their child has thin or patchy hair in the early years of life because hair texture and growth patterns can change as children get older.

Cutting a child’s hair is ultimately a decision that parents make for themselves. Keeping the child’s scalp clean and their comfort in mind should take precedence over antiquated notions about hair cutting.

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