Why do some Chinese people avoid cutting their hair in the first lunar month?

The custom reportedly originated during the Ming-Qing dynasty transition, when Han Chinese shaved their heads to resist Manchu rule. The phrase 'zhēngyuè bù tìtóu' (正月不剃头) meant 'remembering the past' (思旧, sī jiù), which sounds like 'dead uncle' (死舅, sǐ jiù) — leading to the folk belief that a first-month haircut kills your maternal uncle.

• Get your haircut before Chinese New Year if you need one
• Understand this is a regional folk custom, not a universal modern rule
• Respect elders who take this seriously without mocking the belief

• Mockingly suggest someone get a haircut during this period if they've mentioned following the custom
• Assume all Chinese people follow this rule — many don't
• Get a haircut in front of relatives who observe this custom

This rule applies in most social and formal settings across China. When in doubt, watch what your Chinese host or senior colleague does and follow their lead. Breaking this rule once is forgivable — breaking it repeatedly signals a lack of cultural awareness.

The taboo isn't uniform across China. In northern cities like Beijing, Tianjin, and Harbin, you'll still find older colleagues who visibly flinch if you mention a barber in February. In the south, especially Guangdong and Shenzhen, the rule is far looser among the under-40 crowd — many tech workers there have never even heard of it. The real stronghold is rural areas and smaller towns in Shandong, Henan, and the Northeast, where family elders still enforce it. If your company has a factory or office in a tier-3 city, treat this as a hard rule. In tier-1 coastal hubs, it's mostly a joke — but a joke you don't want to test <a href="/business/communicating-with-chinese-boss/">with your</a> boss's 70-year-old mother.

When a foreigner flouts this rule, the Chinese counterpart usually won't scold you — that would be rude. But you'll get subtle signals: a pause, a forced smile, a change of subject. What they're thinking is: 'Doesn't he care about family?' Because the taboo isn't really about hair — it's about respect for kinship ties and the idea that your actions can harm people you love. If you're seen as careless <a href="/etiquette/walk-with-proper-posture/">with your</a> own uncle's wellbeing, how careful will you be with a client's business? In more traditional circles, this becomes a quiet test of your cultural sensitivity. Passing it is easy: just wait a month.

• 正月不剃头 | zhèngyuè bù tìtóu | "Don't get a haircut in the first lunar month" | Direct statement of the taboo; used when warning others.
• 正月理发死舅舅 | zhèngyuè lǐfā sǐ jiùjiu | "Getting a haircut in the first lunar month kills one's maternal uncle" | The classic folk saying explaining the superstition's consequence.
• 出了正月再理发 | chūle zhèngyuè zài lǐfā | "Get a haircut after the first lunar month ends" | Practical advice for when it's finally safe to cut hair.

The rule is largely fading but not extinct. In 2026, most younger Chinese ignore it entirely.

Gen Z vs Older Generations: Young people (under 30) mostly see it as superstition. Many don't even know the rule exists. Those who do mention it treat it as a joke. Older generations (50+) are more likely to follow it, though even many elders now skip the taboo—convenience wins.

Beijing/Shanghai vs Smaller Cities: In Tier-1 cities, this taboo is nearly dead. Urban millennials book haircuts anytime. In smaller towns and rural areas, adherence is higher—about 20-30% still avoid it, especially among older residents and more traditional families.

The core reason for the fade: Lunar New Year is now a busy holiday period, and salons stay open. Waiting until "second month" means weeks of bad hair. Practicality beats tradition.