How to Interpret the Spiritual Meanings & Causes of Hair Loss Dreams

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Identify and resolve the roots of your hair loss dreams

Co-authored by Kari Samuels and Carmine Shannon

Last Updated: September 18, 2023 Fact Checked

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What does hair symbolize in dreams?

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Dream Scenarios & What They Mean

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Possible Causes

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Expert Interview

Hair is a symbol of vitality, status, and beauty—and it’s one of our most impactful physical traits. Dreams about losing your hair can be off-putting and frightening, but they don’t necessarily mean anything bad (or that you’re going to go bald!). Your unconscious mind may be trying to tell you something, so in this article, we’ll go over what it might be saying and how to interpret the message.

Things You Should Know

In dreams, hair can be a symbol of your self-assurance, spiritual growth, or of new beginnings.
Different scenarios mean different things: you could be getting a message to help a friend, improve your self-esteem, or accept changes in your waking life.
Dreams about hair loss are commonly caused by stress, health anxiety, and fear of change.

Section 1 of 3:

What does hair symbolize in dreams?

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Hair represents self-assurance, spiritual growth, and new beginnings. ^{[1]
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Research source} Since hair grows from your head, it is often considered to represent wisdom, thought, and power. Hair is something that changes a lot, also. If you’re cutting your hair or growing it out, you’re moving into a new stage in your life.
- Biblical interpretations from the story of Samson (who gets his power from not cutting his hair) and of Mary Magdalene (a disciple of Christ who washes his feet with her hair) suggest that there is a spiritual connection to hair.
- Since we get a fair amount of self-confidence in waking life from our hair—good hair day, anyone?—dreaming about long, luscious locks can indicate you’re feeling good about yourself and your image.

Section 2 of 3:

Hair Loss Dream Scenarios & What They Mean

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You may be afraid of something slipping away. If losing hair symbolizes change, agonizing over gradual hair loss may mean you’re scared of a shift in your life. Life comes at you fast and this dream may be telling you to relinquish some control and see where the world takes you.
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Dreams about pulling your hair out If you’re pulling out hair in dreams, you may be feeling judged. Have you ever wanted to change to fit someone else’s standards? This dream can mean that you feel you have to be different to be accepted by others. Take stock of what the important parts of yourself are and stick up for them.
- This dream can also symbolize wanting to get out of a bad relationship. The act of pulling out your hair can mean you’re taking control of your situation and ridding yourself of toxicity. ^{[2]
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Dreams about thinning hair Changes in your physical appearance, especially your hair, can signify a fear of judgment. ^{[3]
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Research source} Being in the beginning stages of balding could indicate growing anxiety that your sacrifices and risks are being overlooked or that your work isn’t being valued.
- Work on believing in yourself by celebrating the times your risks have paid off. Being your own #1 supporter will allow you to feel confident in your work and life choices.
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Dreams about clumps of hair falling out This dream can signify a feeling that life is moving too fast. Someone you’re close to could be developing a new, intense relationship, or you could be struggling to keep up with all your work. Take time to recenter yourself and think about what’s important to you. Working with change instead of against it will open up new opportunities.
- These dreams can also signal health concerns and are commonly experienced by people going through treatments like chemotherapy.
- Accept change by putting it into perspective. Ask yourself why you’re afraid of the change coming, what you think it will affect, and what you could gain from it.
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Dreams about hiding bald spots Hiding parts of yourself in a dream, like bald spots, can indicate low self-esteem. When you’re hiding a change in your body, you may be feeling exposed and vulnerable. ^{[4]
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Research source} Shying away from people to protect yourself may seem like your only option, but you can fight low self-esteem by paying attention to how you feel about yourself and addressing problems objectively.
- Identify your negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. Instead of saying something like “I’m a failure”, say “I had a learning experience”.
- Keep your self-esteem high by treating yourself like a friend. What you tell others often doesn’t always reflect what you tell yourself, so by switching your perceptions, you’re more likely to be kind.
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Dreams about shaving your head Removing your own hair symbolizes new beginnings and taking control over change. ^{[5]
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Research source} This dream might reflect an internal struggle to break the patterns you’re in. You might be telling yourself it’s time to end a bad habit or improve yourself.
- Take note of who you want to be and the things you want to achieve. You have the ability to change, and this dream is giving you the inciting power to do it.
If hair loss means fear of change, curing baldness means accepting it. This dream puts you in a stressful situation that you then overcome, so it’s telling you that you have the power to move forward. Changing is a natural part of life, and adapting to it means you’re taking control and redefining your identity.
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Dreams of waking up bald This can mean something shocking has happened in your waking life. Finding yourself bald in what you can understandably assume is real life indicates an intense change that you’ll have to reset yourself around. It could be reflective of a recent turn in your financial situation or even something as big as learning you’re having a baby.
- Big changes can affect all areas of your life. You may have found out you need to move, ended a long-term relationship, or experienced a death of a loved one. It can be a long process, but getting comfortable with where that event leaves you will allow you to move forward.
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Dreams of wearing a wig When you wear a wig in a dream it can mean you’re abandoning who you are to try and fit in. You may feel out of place in your community, or like you have to be someone you’re not. ^{[6]
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Research source} Your mind’s reaction to internalized negativity may be telling you to figure out what’s important and start putting yourself first.
- You can interpret this dream as a sign to put effort into being yourself . Take time to think about who you are and what you stand for. You may still want to change, but do it on your own terms.
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Dreams of white hair falling out White hair is a symbol of wisdom and luck, so when it falls out it may mean something unlucky is coming your way. Think through your decisions carefully and apply your wisdom from past experiences.
- Think about the choices you’re making. Should you be spending your time at a job you don’t like? Should you be investing in a stock your friend assured you is “about to be the next big thing?”
- Connect to your intuition before making your next big decision. If your unconscious mind is trying to tell you something, your body may be as well.
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Dreams of someone else’s hair falling out This can symbolize a faltering spirit, either yours or another person’s. Your unconscious mind is recognizing a sign of insecurity or vulnerability and projects this symbolism onto someone else. ^{[7]
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Research source} If the dream is about someone you know in waking life, now might be a good time to reach out and see if they need your support.
- Spiritual trouble can manifest itself as depression, loss of motivation, or a notable personality shift.
- It can be hard to tell when someone else is going through it. Start a dialogue with an open mind and let the person know you’re here for them if they need it.
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Dreams of hair falling out while brushing This dream points towards a sense of renewal and the ending of a tough situation: you’re shedding what doesn’t serve you. Some amount of hair loss is perfectly healthy and is caused by the cycles your body continuously goes through. ^{[8]
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- Think of it like a dog shedding its winter coat: you don’t need the extra fluff in the summer.
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Dreams of hair connected to flesh falling out Your mind could be reacting to intense negativity in your life—you’re not just losing dead hair, you’re losing your living scalp! This dream could be saying you’re being harmed by that negative energy and you need to get rid of it. Release the relationships that affect you poorly and fill your life with positive forces.
- This dream can also predict an upcoming betrayal. Be aware of what you share with others and evaluate who you trust.

Section 3 of 3:

Possible Causes of Hair Loss in Dreams

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Stress and anxiety Stress can cause hair to fall out in dreams, just like in waking life. One of the most common reasons you may lose hair in a dream is that there’s an outstanding source of stress in your life. This could mean you’re in a bad financial situation, in an uneasy relationship, or working a high-stress job. ^{[9]
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- If you’re having this dream, think about how you can exercise power when you feel powerless. Understanding and enforcing your boundaries is a great way to take control over your life.
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Reflection of a waking reality Real-life hair loss can greatly impact your dreams. Losing hair can be a traumatic experience—hair is a symbol of identity and confidence—and that waking pain can translate into your dream life. Experiencing pattern baldness, undergoing treatments like chemotherapy, or developing alopecia can influence your dreams. ^{[10]
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- Some believe that health concerns manifest themselves in dreams before they move to waking life. This dream could be an indicator of fear over an illness you already have, such as cancer, or a fear of getting sick.
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Fear of aging As we get older, we become more prone to baldness, so balding in a dream can mean a fear of leaving youth behind. The bodily experiences of old age are often a mystery to the young and can represent unwanted change. You can’t stop yourself from aging, so this dream may be reminding you to enjoy your youth.
- Combat worrying about the future by focusing on what you can control and living in the present. Practicing mindfulness and keeping a gratitude journal can ground you in your current experience.
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Inferiority Hair signifies strength and power across belief systems and spiritual traditions, so losing hair can be a symbol of losing power. For example, in the biblical story of Samson, he loses his strength after his hair was cut. Feeling undermined and inferior in your waking life may be causing you to dream about losing your hair. ^{[11]
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- Focus on your personal strengths and don’t compare yourself to others to help regain a sense of self-worth.
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Loss of control You may feel something else is taking over your waking life. ^{[12]
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Research source} You might dream about hair loss if you feel your autonomy is undermined, or if a trauma like the death of a loved one, lost a job, or recently received troubling news about your health is plaguing you and making you feel powerless. Illnesses, sudden changes, and daunting tasks in your waking life can often manifest as unstoppable hair loss while you sleep.
- Regain control by writing down how you’d like to interact with the world and focusing on small, specific steps to change your situation.
- To cope with loss , accept the nature of the situation you’re in and look for joy and comfort in other aspects of your life.
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Spiritual loss Hair isn’t just related to power—it also symbolizes spiritual connection. If you’re losing your hair in a dream it may indicate an emotional or spiritual loss, such as a major shift in belief. If you feel disconnected from your spirituality and faith, look within to find the root of the cause.
- If you’ve recently had your core beliefs challenged you may find yourself unmoored. Speak to members of your spiritual community, like religious leaders and friends, to regain confidence and reshape your point of view.
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Positive life changes Hair loss is a hard thing to miss—it’s a big part of identity. While hair loss dreams may seem like an entirely negative thing, they can also symbolize renewal and change. If you’re feeling worried about what your future may hold, create a vision for yourself to act as a guiding light.
- Having specific goals and plans to reach them helps take the uncertainty out of your life. Take this dream as a chance to evaluate where you are and where you’d like to be.
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Resentment and anger Hair loss can symbolize a loss of control, and sometimes that can be caused by overwhelming emotions. Anger is strong and often shunned, despite it being a normal part of life. Accept your anger as a tool, and listen to it to figure out where you might need a change in your life.
- Anger can be productive and insightful if you use it in a healthy way. Use anger to your benefit by channeling it into power and assertion.
One biblical interpretation relates baldness to cleanliness. Leviticus 13:40-41 reads: “When a man has lost his hair and he is bald, he is clean. If he has lost his hair from the front of scalp and has a bald forehead, he is clean.” ^{[13]
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Research source} This can mean a person’s life is being renewed and they are experiencing a purity of being.