Why is it bad luck to wash your hair on New Year's Eve?

Author: Vilma Leannon  |  Last update: Sunday, April 26, 2026

Washing your hair on Lunar New Year might wash your luck away. Washing your hair during Chinese New Year is considered washing your wealth away. It's considered bad luck to wash your hair on the first day of Lunar New Year. Letting your hair air dry is also a big no-no.

Is it bad luck to wash your hair on new years?

For similar reasons, many cultures believe washing your hair on New Year's is also bad luck, so you may want to skip washing anything on the holiday to be safe.

What are you not supposed to do on New Year's Eve?

  • Drinking and driving: It is crucial to avoid drinking and driving on New Year's Eve. Not only is it illegal, but it can also be extremely dangerous for yourself and others on the road (1).
  • Setting unrealistic expectations: It's important to avoid setting unrealistic expectations for the year ahead.
  • Excessive spendi

Why shouldn't you shower on New Year's Eve?

Is it bad luck to shower on New Year's Eve? Like sweeping, there's a superstition out there that showering will wash away your good luck, according to CNN.

Should you wash your hair before or after new years?

“On the first two days of the New Year, we do not wash our hair as it will wash away the good luck. In the first 15 days, we can wash our hair once with pomelo leaves, then washing hair becomes normal again. We just have to avoid days 1,2,7, and 15,” Debbie explains.

Can you wash your hair on new year's Day?

When shouldn't you wash New Year?

One of the most prevalent New Year's superstitions is that on January 1 no washing should be done. However, some people go one step further and make it a custom to keep any dirty clothes unwashed from Christmas until New Year's Day.

What not to do on Jan 1?

Don't Clean the House on New Year's Day - You will wash away any good luck coming your way.

What should you avoid doing on New Year's Day?

New Year's Day superstitions: Don't wash clothes; do look for a tall, dark, stranger; eat greens – KIRO 7 News Seattle.

Is it bad luck to fall asleep before midnight on New Year's?

New Year's Eve is an exceptionally long night for many cultures; if you must sleep, ensure it's right after midnight at the earliest. Sleeping through midnight could trap you in the previous year or taint your luck for the year to come.

Can you clean on December 31st?

Some frown upon cleaning up and cleaning clothes during New Year's Eve. It is thought that you could accidentally wash away or wipe away good luck headed your way.

Why shouldn't you cry on New Year's day?

4. Don't Cry. Hold your tears back! Crying for any reason (even if it's a good one) on New Year's Day is believed to be a bad sign of things to come.

What chores should you not do on New Year's day?

Don't wash those clothes

According to folklore, if you wash clothes on New Year's Day, you'll be “washing for the dead” or washing a loved one away -- meaning someone in your household will die in the coming year.

What brings luck on New Year's day?

Grapes and Other Fruit

In Mexico, grapes are eaten at midnight to symbolize the year ahead. In China and other Asian countries, oranges are prized for their round shape and gold-like hue as a representation of good fortune. Throughout the world, pomegranates, a symbol of fertility and birth, are eaten at the new year.

What day is it bad luck to wash your hair?

It is believed that if you wash your hair on New Year's day, you'd also be washing away all your luck. It's somewhat similar to if you cut your hair, you'd be cutting your life shorter!

What not to eat on New Year's Eve?

  • Catfish. Catfish have no place on a New Year's menu. ...
  • Hollow Bread. You'll want to avoid hollow bread at dinner. ...
  • Lobster. Eating lobster on New Year's could have some unintended consequences. ...
  • Chicken. Chicken is a New Year's no-no. ...
  • Tofu. Think twice before eating tofu on New Year's. ...
  • Beef. ...
  • Broken Noodles. ...
  • A Full Plate of Food.

Can I do my hair on New Year's Eve?

The Superstition

According to folklore and tradition, it is believed that washing your hair on New Year's Eve may wash away good luck and fortune, leaving you vulnerable to misfortune and bad luck in the coming year.

Can I wash my hair on New Year's day?

Cleaning during the Lunar New Year, however, is thought to risk getting rid of any good luck accumulating in the home. Sweeping, taking out the garbage or even washing your hair should be avoided.

What are you not meant to do on New Year's?

According to Chinese lore, tidying on New Year's Day is thought to clean away the good luck you've stored up for the new year. Seriously, you're not supposed to sweep the house or even do your laundry.

What time do you kiss on New Year's?

Whether it's a romantic partner or a close friend, a kiss at the stroke of midnight is thought to set the tone for the year's relationships.

What color to wear on New Year's?

Red: A Color of Luck and Energy. When it comes to New Year colors, red is often associated with luck, prosperity, and vitality.

Can I wash on New Year's Eve?

Don't wash those clothes

According to folklore, if you wash clothes on New Year's Day, you'll be “washing for the dead” or washing a loved one away -- meaning someone in your household will die in the coming year. Get your laundry washed, dried, folded and put away by New Year's Eve.

What are you not allowed to do on New Year's Day?

Don't clean your house.

Looking for an excuse not to tidy up? According to Chinese lore, tidying on New Year's Day is thought to clean away the good luck you've stored up for the new year. Seriously, you're not supposed to sweep the house or even do your laundry.

Can I clean my house on New Year's day?

People believe that if you do clean on January 1, you end up sweeping away all of the good luck that's stored away in your home for that coming year, so you wait until January 2 to complete your household chores like laundry, dishes and tidying up instead.

Why shouldn't you do laundry on Jan 1st?

🧺✨ There's a long-standing belief that washing clothes, dishes, or anything else on New Year's Day can wash away your luck for the entire year—or worse, symbolise washing away a loved one. It's a tradition rooted in folklore, and while not everyone believes it, many people choose to play it safe just in case.

Should you eat chicken on New Year's day?

If you don't want your luck to fly away in the new year, it's best to avoid any animal that has wings and scratches in the dirt, like turkey or chicken. These birds scratch backward, which can imply dwelling in the past or—even worse—the need to scrape by for your living.

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