Zombies have become an iconic part of pop culture, appearing in movies, shows, video games, and books. One of their most recognizable traits is their baldness. But why exactly are zombies always portrayed as having no hair? There are a few key reasons.
Hair Decays After Death
Zombies are reanimated corpses, meaning they were dead before rising again. When a body dies, the hair follicles no longer receive nutrients and blood flow, causing the hair to deteriorate over time.
By the time a corpse reanimates as a zombie, most if not all of its hair has already fallen out. This process leaves zombies completely or partially bald.
Rigor Mortis Causes Hair Loss
Rigor mortis is the stiffening of the body’s muscles after death. This rigidity often leads to hair falling out in clumps or patches.
As rigor mortis sets in, the scalp tightens and constricts around the hair follicles. This constriction cuts off blood supply to the follicles, causing the hair to die and eventually fall out.
The hair loss is exacerbated when a corpse becomes a zombie and starts moving around with stiff, contracted scalp muscles.
Poor Hygiene and Grooming
Good hygiene and grooming habits like washing, brushing, and styling are essential for maintaining healthy hair.
As mindless corpses concerned only with feeding, zombies are unable to properly care for their hair even if they have some left.
Matted, dirty hair choked with blood and gore will rapidly fall out. Self-grooming and hygiene are out of the question for zombies.
Hair is Not Essential for Survival
Hair is largely vestigial for zombies. Unlike living humans, zombies do not need hair for warmth or sun protection.
Their drive is to feed, not socialize or attract mates with well-kept hair. As a non-essential tissue, hair is not prioritized in a zombie’s decaying body.
Resources are devoted to muscles, bones, and brains essential for locomotion and attacking prey. Hair maintenance is wasted energy for the undead.
Visual Cue in Storytelling
Baldness provides an instant visual cue that identifies a zombie. Hair or no hair impacts character design and recognition.
A bald zombie contrasts clearly with living humans. As a storytelling element, the hairless head is a quick shorthand for “zombie”. It sets them apart from protagonists and victims. Baldness warns: “this is a zombie, proceed with caution.”
Conclusion
In summary, zombies are portrayed as bald for several reasons grounded in science and storytelling. Hair requires care that zombies are incapable of. The undead have no need for hair and are driven solely to feed.
As mindless corpses, their hair has already naturally deteriorated or fallen out. And a bald head is a quick visual signal warning of their danger. The iconic image of a zombie would not be the same without their signature hairless heads.
