 Some Muslims are also opposed to men having long hair as it is also important in Islam to have clear differences ( in appearance ) between sexes . And generally these cultures encourage women to have long hair and men to have short hair . The Taliban in Afghanistan viewed long hair for men as a western influence , and punished it by arrest and forced haircuts , although this would be a direct contradiction of the sunnah of the Prophet . Similar measures have been taken by Islamists in Iraq . In spite of this , several Taliban affiliated members of the Mehsud clan are recognisable by their long hair . The Saudi Islamist fighter Amir Khattab was also notable for his long hair . Dervishes of some Sufi orders , such as the Kasnazani , often have long hair and whirl it around during rituals . 
