A Fetish For Hair
Nowadays, discourse on fetishes and kinks is much more mainstream than in previous years. But, in 1923, one newspaper article discussed fetishes in very clear terms, though not in a favorable light. The article, which is an advertisement for Fitch Shampoo, claimed that a hair fetishist is obsessed with hair to a greater extent than the average person. The article also connected hair fetishes with proclivity for criminal acts associated with hair. For example, the article cited criminologists in describing the hair fetishist as one who nonconsensually cuts and/or steals another person’s hair. Oddly, these first points are only loosely tied into the article’s message, which is an advertisement for Fitch Shampoo to enrich beautiful hair.
This 1923 article is riddled with the biases of polite society in early 20th century America, but it does mention a little discussed phenomenon: hair fetishes. In this instance, a fetish is a paraphilia, which is often defined as an unusual sexual fixation on a specific object or attribute. However, more recent medical research suggests that this definition is based on rigid sexual norms and misunderstanding of psychological processes. In the case of hair, a fetish can range widely in the specifics, from long hair to hair cutting, among others. Unfortunately, the article is mired in early 20th century fascination with grisly and sensational details, and fetishes are seen somewhat differently in the 21st century.
Surveys have shown that fetishes are fairly common in the general population, with hair fetishes ranking as some of the most prevalent. Anthropologists suggest that hair fetishes have influenced folk tales and legends around the world, notably in the story of Loki and Sif’s golden hair from Norse mythology. Despite this, hair fetishes are still poorly understood in the public sphere. News coverage of violent criminals who have various hair fetishes often poison the well in healthy discourse about hair fetishes. This in no way excuses any criminal and immoral actions perpetrated by these individuals, but it is also often the main frame of reference that people may have.
Confirming whether historical figures had a hair fetish is nearly impossible. That being said, it is fascinating to read accounts where it is possible, perhaps even probable. Irene Castle, famous for helping popularize the bob in 1915, stated in a 1921 interview that she had always enjoyed hair cutting, almost as a compulsion: “…I cannot resist the scissors. I love to cut other people’s hair, and have bobbed at least twenty heads. I have often thought that I should like a little shop of my own, where I could snip to my heart’s content.” Whether Mrs. Castle had a hair fetish or not, she seemed to have enjoyed her interest in hair tremendously. Statistically, one is likely to know someone who has a hair fetish or something similar, and we have indeed come a long way in the discourse around hair fetishes.
