Chapter VI of The Story of Hair represents one of the most striking and psychologically oriented sections of the book.

Here, Charles Nessler develops a central claim:
 

Hair is directly connected to the nervous system.
 

Rather than treating hair as an isolated biological structure, Nessler argues that it reacts to:

• emotional states

• fear and shock

• instinctive responses

• nervous tension

This chapter attempts to show that hair is not passive—but actively linked to the body’s inner reactions.
 

Hair and Strength – A Deep Cultural Belief

Nessler begins with a powerful cultural reference:
 

“Subconsciously, mankind always has associated hairiness with physical strength.”

He refers to the biblical figure Samson:

• strength lost with hair

• strength regained when hair grows

His point:

Hair has long been seen as a symbol of power and vitality
 

Hair as Expression of Nervous Energy

A key theoretical statement:
 

“It is the strength of the fundamental forces… and the potency of his nervous energy that are indicated by his hair production.”

For Nessler:

• nervous energy = driving force of the body

• hair = visible indicator of that energy

 

This connects directly to earlier chapters (instinct theory)
 

Immediate Reaction: Hair Stands on End

One of the strongest observational parts:

“It is not unusual for human hair to stand on end in moments of sudden fear or great shock.”

He describes:

• fear → nerve signal

• muscles contract

• hair rises vertically

 

classic fight-or-flight reaction

 

He explains the mechanism:

• nerves send rapid signals

• blood shifts

• scalp muscles tighten

• follicles grip hair
   

Animal Comparison (Very Important)

Nessler reinforces his argument through animals:

• cat → hair stands when threatened

• horse → mane rises

• hedgehog → spines expand

conclusion:

Hair is part of a defensive system
 

Shock vs. Relaxation

A key contrast:

Fear / Shock

• muscles contract

• follicles tighten

• hair is held firmly

Relaxation

• muscles loosen

• follicles release

• hair falls

“Relief from the shock… is followed by a return of the blood to the surface and relaxation of the muscles.”

This becomes his explanation for hair loss after stress
 

Extreme Emotional Effects on Hair

Now it gets intense.

Nessler describes several cases:

Case 1 – School Child (Exam Stress)

A child under extreme stress:

• hair loss decreases before exam

• after stress → massive shedding

233 hairs removed after brushing

Interpretation:

Stress blocks hair loss temporarily → then releases it

Case 2 – Pregnancy

“A curious symptom of pregnancy is the sudden cessation of hair fall.”

He claims:

• nervous tension → stops hair loss

• after birth → heavy shedding

This is actually partly correct (modern telogen effluvium concept)

Case 3 – Illness (Cancer / Tuberculosis)

He describes:

• illness → nervous strain

• sometimes increased hair growth

• sometimes suppression

inconsistent but used to support his theory
 

Hair and Extreme Nervous Shock

One of the most dramatic sections:

Truck Driver Case

• near-fatal accident

• temporary loss of speech

• weeks later → total hair loss

Military Officer Case

• extreme stress during mission

• after return → rapid hair loss

• fully bald in weeks

Nessler’s conclusion:

Hair loss is directly triggered by nervous shock
 

Key Mechanism (Nessler’s Theory)

He explains hair loss like this:

1. extreme nervous tension

2. sudden contraction

3. followed by relaxation

4. follicles lose grip

5. hair falls out

“The causes… were merely an intensifying of the causes which lead to all normal hair loss.”
 

Hair as a Nervous System Indicator

Core idea of the chapter:

Hair reflects internal nervous state

He suggests:

• strong nervous system → strong hair

• disturbed system → hair loss

Hair becomes a visible diagnostic tool
 

Final Statement of the Chapter

The chapter ends with a clear conclusion:

The nervous system controls the condition of hair

Hair is:

• reactive

• dynamic

• connected to internal processes
   

Conclusion of Chapter VI

Chapter VI develops one of Nessler’s boldest claims:

Hair is directly linked to the nervous system.
 

Key ideas:

• Hair responds to fear and emotional shock

• Nervous tension affects hair growth and loss

• Hair reflects internal physiological states

• Stress can trigger sudden and extreme hair loss
   

Modern Scientific Perspective

Modern science partially supports—but also corrects—Nessler’s theory.
 

What is correct:

• Stress can influence hair loss ✔

• Hair follicles react to hormonal signals ✔

• Post-stress shedding exists (telogen effluvium) ✔
   

What is incorrect:

• Hair is directly controlled by nerves ❌

• Hair loss is caused by muscle contraction ❌

• instinct drives hair biology ❌
   

Modern explanation:

Hair loss is influenced by:

• hormones (cortisol, DHT)

• stress response

• immune system

• genetics

What remains valuable

Nessler recognized something important:

Hair reacts to internal states

Modern science confirms:

• stress → hair shedding

• trauma → hair loss

• emotional factors → visible effects

​

→ Chapter 7 
→ Chapter 5

→ Back to Overview
→ The Permanent Wave – Invention, Method and Impact

​

Original Chapter (1928)

Below you find the original scanned version of Chapter VI from The Story of Hair by Charles Nessler.

PDF Chapter VI (Original Scan)