Column | A hairy matter

Scholars argue. They still do. How long was Rapunzel's hair? According to fairy tale researchers, that naturally depended on the height of the tower from which she helped her love-struck prince ascend. After all, many tests have shown that it is entirely realistic to climb 20 meters using hair, after all, hair is a miracle of nature: it is very thin and yet incredibly durable. It measures 0,05 to 0,08 millimeters, depending on genetic predisposition, and there are, of course, various ways to tame the hair. Dreadlocks are not recommended, because the twisted process causes them to mat easily, prone to split ends, and become extremely dull. So, keep your hands off them.

Kathrin Hendrich knows just how hair like that feels. In the quarter-final against France, the German international pulled the hair of Griedge Mbock Bathy, whose parents came to Brittany from Cameroon and who has a somewhat thicker braid on her head. This resulted in a penalty for France. This was a first in football history and naturally caused an outcry among hairdressers in both countries, as it is to be feared that this incident will soon mean: off with the braid! First of all, the German side - naturally - insisted that Ms. Hendrich only came into contact with her rival's thick mane by chance. The video images show something different.

Bun or ponytail? At least the punishment was lenient. Only a one-match suspension, and Hendrich was actually cleared of any suspicion of intentional injury. The French women's hair may understandably stand on end. It was ruled a "normal foul" and not "assault." At least the French women's team had the chance to play the rest of the game with numerical superiority (the hairy incident also occurred in the 13th minute). They failed to capitalize on this opportunity.

Germany beat France on penalties. © ANSA / MICHAEL BUHOLZER

But now the scissors are hanging over everyone, or at least artistry may be required in the future when it comes to headwear. If Mademoiselle Bathy had worn a bun, Hendrich would never have succumbed to the temptation to throw her competitor off balance with a surprising hairdo. So, looking at it from this perspective, there could well be a regulation that prevents such a situation from happening in the future. I've already mentioned the bun. The ponytail is the first choice at the moment. A chic short hairstyle would be possible, but it's not everyone's cup of tea (I guess that's what they're now calling "everywoman's cup of tea"). Women rightly take care of their hair, hopefully also to please us men a little.

A hairnet as a cure? In sports, of course, that can sometimes be a hindrance. Of course, I don't have a lot of experience in that area. When it comes to sports, yes, but not with long hair. I'm not the fussy type, but it rarely grew over my ears. Although: During my time in the Bundeswehr (German Army), I had to comply with the so-called hairnet decree of the then Defense Minister Helmut Schmidt. My ever-present rebellious character trait, which is particularly evident when given orders by the authorities, forced me to wear a net. I was going through the bushy-haired phase and was thus quite literally a "sufferer" in both senses of the word. The net itched, scratched, and, sorry, it looked pretty stupid with the little "cap," the headgear worn by lower ranks in the Air Force.

I'd therefore prefer not to wear hairnets to women's soccer players. However, it's possible that the busy FIFA President Gianni Infantino, known for his clean-cut hair, will introduce a new rule. So far, only the studs on the shoes are checked. Pretty lax, by the way, but still. Perhaps Infantino will have a template made that will be placed over each player's head before a match to check a certain, yet-to-be-determined maximum hair length. A practically preventative measure. The Hendrich effect.

A hairdresser for the team And one thing is also clear. In addition to a trained coach, an assistant coach, a team doctor, and a physiotherapist, the team will also be required to have a hairdresser in the future, although that's almost old hat. But it's not the women, but the men, especially those in the top price segment, who now have their in-house hairdresser flown in for important matches. And the bun, for example, has long been a favored stylist in men's football. See Erling Haaland (Norway) or the Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Both, one scoring goals and the other preventing them, want a clear, unobstructed view, which is why they tame the hair on their heads. Now, at the Women's European Championship matches in Switzerland, I find myself not only watching the dribbles, but also, you guessed it, the players' heads. Rapunzel isn't kicking. She has to catch her prince. There was hardly any hair to be seen in the semifinals. Instead, there was dramatic action and exciting matches.

About the author: Sigi Heinrich The award-winning sports journalist (including the winner of the German Television Award, the Bavarian Sports Award, and a nominee for the prestigious Grimme Prize), a trained sports teacher, author, longtime sports editor of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, and a commentator for Eurosport since 1989, devotes his weekly column to the entire spectrum of sports. Sometimes with a smile, sometimes thoughtfully or deliberately provocatively. And sometimes the topics are even far-fetched.

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Column | A hairy matter

German national team player Kathrin Hendrich drew attention to the players' hair by pulling her braids in the match against France. Our columnist Sigi Heinrich sees the good old bun on the rise, and in the future, hairdressers will be sitting alongside the coaching staff on the bench.

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