I remember reading once somewhere in passing that girls get haircuts after getting their hearts broken. I can no longer find that source or where & when I heard it, but I've started to notice than in mangas where girls do get haircuts, it's after some type of heartbreak.

Is this true? ;P I don't remember much about this, & can't find anywhere online to confirm this "tradition."

Does anyone know about this haircutting thing, why it exists, & where it originated?

I remember reading it in Beauty Pop I think. When the girl wanted to have long hair again to confess to the boy she liked. I don't know if the whole thing is true though.

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I know that cutting your hair is a sign of a new beginning, usually after something bad happens and you want to move on...I don't think that's limited to just Japan, though. But...I don't know the origin either.

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I can tell you that when I cut all my hair off (for not-heartbreak reasons), the next time my Japanese homestay mother saw me, she asked, "Why did you cut your hair? Did you get your heart broken?" So it's not just manga. ^^ I can't tell you about the origins, though.

cutting one hair can mean a sacrifice... a closure... letting go of your power.. an appreciation to god.. growing up... a new start

it's a traditional-cultural-religious believes for (as far as i know) all asian...
there are some believes that say that your 'inner strength' or your 'identity' is within your hair... cutting it up mean that you are sacrificing you power.... that's why at my college my senior once ask me "you're not one of those 'people' who are not allowed to cut their hair... right?"

there's also a tradition where children's hair are not allowed to be cut till they reach a certain age

for the appreciation to god is usually comes with an agreement (with and for yourself and god as your witness)... like: you pray to god that u will cut your hair if u get that promotion.

a girl cutting her hair after break up prolly goes to the "new start" reason.. it's also the same when you done something bad in your job, then your boss tell you to "straighten up" (.. i feel that this is not the right word) it sometimes replied by u get a new haircut

in your case, cutting hair implies new begining, and not restricted to specific japanses custom.

just for your infomration though. in ancient korea it's forbidden to cut one's hair (unless ur a buddhist monk)
that's because by the confucionisy belief, your body is the gift given by your parents.
therefore, harming the body, even something like cutting hair and fingernails/toenail are considered disrespect for parents. (you do cut toe/fingernails, but keep them in a special box)

that's why you get thoese ancient drama moment where men who have their topnot sliced by enemy's sword is considered shame
and why sometimes they "spare" the enemy's life in battle and take thie topnot instead.
(I think)

My sister cut her hair after a divorce, she use to have very long hair now shes like a Tomboy, surprised me at first as well. For the record we're Thai so it could be some asian thing?

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It's not just an Asian thing. I know plenty of girls who cut their hair after they broke up with a boyfriend (that is in the Southeastern US). Also, my mother cut her extremely long hair after she divorced my father.

Hair as a symbol of strength isn't just an Asian thing either...think Sampson.

It's not just women though. I've seen and heard of a lot of guys who've shaved or cut their hair. It was usually a seen as a sacrifice, or to symbolize a new beginning where they want to throw off part of the burden of who they were before and start anew.

The only manga example I can think of is Slam Dunk, when Sakuragi shaved off his hair after they lost a match.

Our Psychology professor told us that the hair is a part of your body. That's why when you want to start anew, cutting your hair means that you are now leading a new life (cutting your hair is the same as dying). The act of cutting one's hair isn't a tradition, it's a choice people have.

You could say it's true for the most part, yeah.

To "start anew."

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I guess it has to do with new beginnings.
I cut my hair short for the first time in 8 years after I graduated from Highschool.
Like from my stomach to my chin.

It was really liberating so maybe after heart break that kind of control is nice?

*I don't regret it but I miss my hair. Don't do things without thinking them through.

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I remember something about indian women cutting their hair as a sacrifice. For them it has a religious signification too, with the fact that it's a sacrifice (for a dead husband for example).
I also sometimes have the urge to cut my hair, when I feel like changing myself, not only when a boy leaves me. (problem is, I really really love LOVE long hair, but that dream hasn't come true because I also have that urge to cut them once in a while, lol)

Wow thanks a lot people for all the replies xD that really helps alot