what does the bible say?

Leviticus 19:27 states: “You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.”  In addition Leviticus 21:5 says: “They shall not make any bald place on their heads, nor shall they shave the edges of their beard nor make any cutting in their flesh.”  Does this mean that it is wrong to shave or cut one’s hair?

Absolutely not!  It was a ceremonial custom of the heathen to cut and trim their beards and hair into special shapes in honor of the sun god.  The ancient Egyptians had their dark locks cropped short or shaved with great nicety, so the hair which remained on the crown of their head appeared in the form of a circle surrounding the head, while the beard was dressed in a square form.  Alternatively, a round bald spot was sometimes shaved on the head. God forbids the following of pagan customs and false worship.  Shaving one’s beard and cutting one’s hair for normal good grooming is something altogether different and is not condemned anywhere in the Bible.