Headshaving
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Headshaving is the removal of hair from the head of people usually by means of a razor or an electric shaver. This practice is as old as human kind as, from the earliest history, there are reports of headshaving of people, such as in Egypt and in Rome. In ancient Greece long hair was a symbol of wealth and power, while a shaven head was appropriate to a slave, a poor or a man who was not noble. Over the centuries, the practice of headshaving was implemented to punish people, such as criminals. Even today, several counries shave the heads of inmates in prisons (Libya, USA, Russia) as a punishment and also for hygiene reasons (lice). In bootcamps for delinquent youths,in USA, inmates are forced to have their heads shaven to the bone. The practice of shaving a head is also used in the military, mostly for recruits. USA, Russia and several other armies "welcome" their recruits by giving to them haircuts by using hair clippers with no guard attached. As a result, this can be called headshaving. In Greece this practice was abolished on June 25, 1982. Other countries, among them USA, keep this practice which seems to be a tradition (note the recruit haircuts in the USMC that are standard). A group of people shave their heads today for different reasons. One example is skinheads, who use this appearance as a message to society. Other men and even women, shave their heads for religious (Buddists) or medical purposes.