The Sikh Rehat Maryada leaves no gray area when it comes to cutting or shaving hair: it’s simply off limits. Hair (kesh) is regarded as a divine gift, an outward sign of inner commitment, and must remain unshorn. Whether on the scalp, beard or body, every strand is to be left intact.

Key points of guidance:

• Unshorn Hair Is Essential
– All baptized Sikhs are required to keep their hair and beards completely uncut.
– Any form of clipping, trimming, shaving or removal—be it scissors, razor or laser—is expressly forbidden.

• Mustache Grooming
– While the beard itself stays natural, the mustache may be lightly groomed so that it neither hides the upper lip nor flares beyond it. A neat appearance is encouraged, but not at the expense of the “unshorn” principle.

• Spiritual and Communal Identity
– Kesh serves as an ever-present reminder of the Guru’s grace and the unity of the Khalsa. Surrendering that gift by trimming or shaving is viewed as breaking a sacred vow.
– In contemporary contexts—from courtrooms to workplace dress codes—courts in India and abroad have upheld the right of Sikhs to maintain unshorn hair, recognizing it as protected religious practice.

• No Exceptions for Convenience
– Whether on holiday, at the gym, during a medical procedure or under social pressure, no practical circumstance justifies cutting hair. Turbans, patkas or scarves simply accompany the natural hair, reflecting both dignity and discipline.

Across generations, from the fields of Punjab to the streets of London during Vaisakhi processions, unshorn hair has remained a signature of Sikh identity. It stands not just as a personal discipline, but as a living testament to faith in action.