There are football players, past and present, who are instantly recognised by their hair.
Recall Edgar Davids and his dreadlocks, Carlos Valderrama and those blonde curls, and Jack Grealish’s long, floppy, slicked-back style.
For some time, Mohamed Salah was also part of this group. Think of a silhouette of the Liverpool forward and it is like no other – the frizzy hair and matching beard are iconic at Anfield and intrinsic to his public image. Well, at least they used to be.
Salah has returned to pre-season training without his trademark afro and now sports a shaven head.
YouTube, TikTok and other social media platforms have been awash with comments as the radical change has provoked widespread discussion before the new season.
“The Premier League isn’t ready for hair transplant Salah,” observers across social media have said, suggesting that his new hairline could spark an uplift on the pitch. But can a haircut have an impact on performance?
Sports psychologists consulted for this article say a haircut could boost a player’s self-confidence, and also transmit that energy to spectators.
“Research has shown that self-esteem and body image can affect performance in athletes,” says Zeynep Atha, a lead sports psychologist at Sheffield Hallam University.
Read more: Six-pack abs, nice skin, full head of hair? How men fret about their looks too
Cal Newsome, the owner of Bull & Co Barber Club, is a hair stylist who works with footballers.
“It sounds a bit cheesy but a sharp, fresh, haircut gives footballers the confidence that they will play better and to their full potential,” he says.
“Footballers are generally more particular about their hair than regular customers. They want a weekly cut and for it to be exactly how they ask – particularly if they know they are going to be on TV.”
Salah – the most recognised Arab sportsman in the world – is no stranger to the limelight so the attention will not be a new experience.
His new look will surprise a few, though. We have already seen the shock on Arne Slot’s face when the new Liverpool manager welcomed Salah back to Liverpool’s AXA Training Centre and pointed to his own bald head in reference to what he was seeing in front of him.
"Same as mine.” – The New York Times
