Obsessive Hair-cutting?

KizzaKat

New member
Hi There

I am new to this forum. I have been suffering with anxiety and OCD for about 12 years now. One of my issues seems to be an obsession with my hair and making it perfect all the time by cutting it myself. This has lead to me having to have it cut really short several times. There were a few years where I let it grow really long but in the past year it has gotten shorter and shorter and this past weekend I was up for 48 hours and not able to sleep because of it and had several panic attack episodes. I ended up cutting it too short and having to go to a hairdressers and have it fixed. I still think it looks uneven even though she told me that it was even. I am having a hard time not attacking it again with my scissors. I am afraid I will end up bald soon.

My OCD has also given me issues with my wieght (anorexia) and cleaning in that past. I have troubles all the time with trying to be perfect in everyway.

Anybody else had this problem with an obsession about their hair? I have found very little on the internet about it.

Thanks
KizzaKat :?
 

Carstuar

Well-known member
At least you're not EATING your hair. Some people do that.

On a more serious note, you should definitely see a shrink about this. There are no shortcuts to mental health.
 

KizzaKat

New member
Carstuar said:
At least you're not EATING your hair. Some people do that.

On a more serious note, you should definitely see a shrink about this. There are no shortcuts to mental health.

I actually have been to a psychiatrist and have been on meds for ten years now. I was more or less curious as to whether people have experienced this obsession with hair or not!

Thanks
 

Carstuar

Well-known member
KizzaKat said:
Carstuar said:
At least you're not EATING your hair. Some people do that.

On a more serious note, you should definitely see a shrink about this. There are no shortcuts to mental health.

I actually have been to a psychiatrist and have been on meds for ten years now. I was more or less curious as to whether people have experienced this obsession with hair or not!

Thanks

I obsess a little bit about my hair, but mostly about how I shape it with wax and stuff. I rarely cut it, but I have to make sure it doesn't look stupid in every reflective surface I can find, at all times.
But I have only very mild OCD.
 

ReVeR

Member
LOL I HAVE THAT TOO!!
I JUST SIT AND COMB MY HAIR FOR HOURS AND HOURS
I FIND THTA KINDA FUNNY ACTUALLY
 

DisTressed

Member
Hi, I've done this off and on for 25 years. I thought I was "over it" but have degenerated into wearing a hat over the last 6 months.
It's hard on my family as well. I lose all track of time. we have no mirrors or scissors in the house right now.
once I shaved it and once I wore a wig for 3 yrs and cut daily.
I've lost 36 lbs during this relapse.
 

messedtress

New member
Hi,

I am new to this forum and have just figured out that I must have ocd because I too obsessively cut my hair until there is basically nothing left to cut. I didn't used to be this way and I can't understand how or why this started. I've always cut my own hair normally - not obsessively. This started about a year ago and I've been trying to grow it out ever since and even have tried going to hairdressers but they always leave it uneven on each side so then I start whacking at it again. I basically still have the same terribly short hair and I have to wear a hat to work now which I hate because it's summer. I just wrecked my bangs (actually I have just about none left).

Has anyone been successful in trying to stop this awful cycle. I really want to have hair again and I feel so ugly. I can't understand why I do this to myself over and over again. I want to try to make it better but I always make it worse. I feel like this is ruining my life and I don't feel like the same person I used to be.
 

fragilefire

New member
I'm new here. I've had BDD for nearly 10 years, although I only became aware of it around 2005, and I just recently recognized the relationship between BDD and OCD. To me, they are one in the same, only that with BDD, my obsession is my appearance or some aspect of it, ususally my hair. There was a time when, for a period of 2 years, I cut my hair nearly every day. I would cut it one day, and then be satisfied that it was even, only to wake up the next day and find that it wasn't, and cut it all over again. During this time, I would spend as much as 8 hours a day in the mirror-- if I wasn't cutting it, I was washing, drying, ironing, styling, fussing with it, and then starting all over again, because I was rarely, if ever, satisfied with it. Then there came a point where I didn't have much hair left to cut, and I knew if I continued, I would end up pretty much bald, so I got rid of all the scisors and even leg-shaving razors in my house. (If I didn't have access to scisors I would resort to using a razor.) At first it was extremely difficult for me because I still had the impulse to cut my hair. It was as if, whenever I got stressed, I wanted to cut my hair as a way to relieve my stress, but it was always counter-productive. It was about a year before I allowed myself a pair of scisors back in the house. I still obsessed and fussed and spent hours on end, but at least I didn't cut. It's been about 2 years since I've had scisors back in the house, and I've only cut my hair a hand-full of times since then, but it's like playing with fire, hoping to keep it contained when at any moment, it can flare up and rage out of control. So nowdays, I go in and have it done professionally, and I've somewhat learned to tolerate the distress of believing it is uneven at times. Last summer, I attended a DBT (dialectial behavior therapy) program, and I found it really helpful. Specifically, the acceptance, mindfulness, and distraction skills I learned. During that time, I reduced the amount of time I spent getting ready to 20 minutes a day, and I felt at peace with myself. Unfortunately, a few months after the program ended, I completely relapsed. I didn't go back to cutting, but I resumed obsessing and spending hours a day in the mirror. It has been hard for me to be honest with both myself and helping professionals about what is going on. Until recently, I always described my anxiety but I never mentioned the source of it, nor my obsession with my appearance and compulsive behaviors that accompanied it. I was too embarassed and ashamed. But now that I have, I hope to find the right combination of medication and therapy to help me overcome this. I know that I am capable, because I did during DBT. Now it's a matter of having the patience and persistence to find the right therapist for me.
 
I hate going to the barber. In the past I've trimmed my hair myself. But once I got frustrated and ended up shaving my head. So now every time I get the urge to cut it, I remember how bad I looked with a shaved head. Lately I've just been letting it grow wild.

CSNY said:
Almost cut my hair
It happened just the other day
It's gettin kinda long
I coulda said it wasn't in my way
But I didn't and I wonder why
I feel like letting my freak flag fly
Cause I feel like I owe it to someone

Must be because I had the flu for Christmas
And I'm not feeling up to par
It increases my paranoia
Like looking at my mirror and seeing a police car
But I'm not giving in an inch to fear
Cause I promised myself this year
I feel like I owe it to someone

When I finally get myself together
I'm going to get down in that sunny southern weather
And I find a place inside to laugh
Separate the wheat from the chaff
I feel like I owe it to someone
 

DisTressed

Member
I too have used a leg razor to cut my hair with. I've also used nail clippers and other things.
Playing with fire is right on.
I need to let it grow long again, somehow, so that I don't obsess.
 

messedtress

New member
I too obsess over my appearance. Could it have come from my childhood when I was severely picked on because of my clothes or my looks or maybe that I was never perfect enough for my mother? Does anyone else come from that type of background? I just don't know where else this behavior would have manifested itself. I am never satisfied with my looks - not because I am vain but because I am insecure. I have this problem with clothes too. It seems I am rarely comfortable in anything and I return everything all the time! I also tend to overpluck my eyebrows too and boy, recently I did a real number on them but at least I can fill them in - I can't draw in new bangs!

Is somehow finding the patience (and willpower) to let our hair grow long and then we won't cut it a partial remedy to our hair obsession? I can honestly say that when my hair was at least to my chin or longer I never felt like this. It's really only been since it's been short for the last two years that I've had this awful problem. In fact, right now I can't even look at my bangs - I have to keep them hidden or somehow I feel the need to try to do something to make them look better even though there is no hair there to do anything with! I too cut my hair and think it's okay and then wake up and find out it's not. I would spend any amount of time in the mirror trying to fix it at all costs no matter what other things I should have doing (like sleeping!). I never, ever thought there was anyone else like me out there.
 

DisTressed

Member
I dig that poem.

For me, my hair has to be below my shoulders. but calling it a partial remedy is right on.

[/quote]too cut my hair and think it's okay and then wake up and find out it's not. I would spend any amount of time in the mirror trying to fix it at all costs no matter what other things I should have doing (like sleeping!).
I have done this more times than I can count and for more years. :?
 

KizzaKat

New member
I recently noticed a connection between my OCD and hair cutting behaviours and aspartame triggering the anxious feelings. Anyone else notice this? I can tell the next day if I accidentally ate or drank something with Aspartame in it - I am crawling the walls.

I have been able to grow my hair out over the past year since I first posted that - it is about shoulder length again. Most of the time I feel fine about it. I went the other day to have it highlighted (not cut) and I almost started up again. Since I had hid my scissors I was using a razor too to trim it. Seems that what I need to do is just leave it alone completely - no cutting or dyeing - or else I get all obsessed again with it. It seems about once a month I go through a few days where i need to really work hard to control the compulsion to cut it..but then it generally goes away.

I take Zoloft to deal with my anxiety and I find smoking small quantities (like a quarter of a joint 3-4 times a week) helps me control my OCD and relax better.
 
M

Mrs21045

Guest
I have been obsessive over my hair for about 13 years now. It started with styling, then chemicals, and cutting. From the time I wake up in the morning until I go to bed I'm thinking about the texture of my hair and how it looks on my head. I rarely stand in the mirror anymore and style it, but often times I will braid it and take the braids out and then style again, but end up going to sleep with it all over my head. I'm always frustrated with it when its curly and natural, but when its bone staight pressed out i love it. Right now I'm trying to wear my natural hair texture, I actually just cut it about thirty minutes ago, the last time I actually went to the salon and had it cut, exactly four weeks ago. My hair obsession has prevented me from meeting people, going out, applying for certain jobs. And now that I've damaged it so much from chemical usage trying to get a certain look its lifeless and I'm starting to feel extremely self conscious about it right this moment. This is a horrible feeling. Last night I asked my husband five times, so do u think I should cut it?! He asked me to wait until he got home from work today, but like I said I just cut thirty mins. ago...
 

Happy2010

New member
I'm new here. Searching for answers to my hair cutting obsession has lead me to this thread. Has anyone found any resolutions to this obession? I really want to stop cutting my hair but am so darn obsessed with my hair and want it to look perfect all the time. At this point I can't do anything with it except to wear it up. I really have butchered it after attempting to fix a very expensive hair cut. Any medication suggestions or any suggestons would b great.
 
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nomoreshame

Guest
I do all of these hair behaviors too. I feel sick inside and shameful after I do it, but somehow I keep doing it no matter how much I just want it to grow. I finally decided to get honest with myself, swallowed my pride and went to a psychiatrist. He immediately told me I have BDD with a lot of certainty. This is apparently common but people are so ashamed that they don't seek treatment. He started me on Lexapro and it is working to take away the obsessive thoughts about cutting/styling my hair. They are not gone entirely so I have had to make adjustments to my routine by getting rid of mirrors and scissors and staying out of the house as much as possible. I am also not allowing myself to back out of commitments at the last minute because I feel my hair looks too horrible to be seen.
I will stay posted on everyone else out there but wanted to pass on this information. I know that I'm better than I was 2 weeks ago before I started this medication.
 
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