Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes the First Indian To Get A Haircut In Space & Yes, It’s as Stylish as It Sounds!
In a moment that perfectly blends science, style, and surrealism, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla just became the first Indian to get a haircut in space and the image of his gravity-defying grooming ritual is everything you didn’t know you needed.
Floating a cool 400 kilometers above Earth aboard the International Space Station, Shukla’s trim isn’t just a quirky sidebar in his groundbreaking mission. It’s an iconic milestone in Indian space history, an ordinary act made extraordinary by zero gravity and a backdrop of swirling blue planet views.
The picture, shared by astronaut Nichole Ayers, captures the surreal charm of space salon life. No scissors flying through the air. No hair sweeping gently to the floor. Instead, a set of vacuum clippers, NASA-designed, ISS-tested, does the job, sucking in freshly snipped strands before they can float away and wreak havoc on life-support systems.
See you soon Ax-4! Wishing you a soft landing! pic.twitter.com/qgsJQo2CRM
— Nichole “Vapor” Ayers (@Astro_Ayers) July 14, 2025
Functional? Absolutely.
Fabulous? Without a doubt.
Because in microgravity, even self-care demands engineering.
Haircuts in Space: A New Kind of High-Stakes Grooming
In space, every strand matters. Without gravity, loose hair can drift into equipment, filters, or even an astronaut’s eye. That’s why space haircuts are planned with near-military precision and executed with technology that would make even the most high-end Earth salon envious. The clippers come with an inbuilt vacuum that collects the hair as it’s trimmed, an elegant solution for an environment where rogue follicles are quite literally dangerous.
For Shukla, the haircut came just hours before the Axiom-4 crew’s undocking and return to Earth. And while it may seem like a small moment in an otherwise giant leap, it’s actually quite the opposite.
A fresh cut in space? That’s not vanity, it’s preparation.
Pressure suits are form-fitting, hygiene becomes even more critical during re-entry, and frankly, if you’re splashing down into the Pacific with hundreds of cameras watching, you might as well land in style.
Shukla’s Stellar Mission: One for the History Books
Shubanshu Shukla’s mission with the Axiom-4 crew has been nothing short of remarkable. From conducting scientific experiments to completing orbits of Earth, his presence aboard the ISS has been a source of pride and inspiration for India and the global space community alike.
And now, he’s added a feather, well, a strand to his space helmet. His space trim isn’t just a viral moment on social media (though yes, it is trending everywhere), it’s a reminder that even amidst life-changing experiments and orbital mechanics, astronauts are still human. They eat. They sleep. And yes, they groom.
The First Indian Space Haircut: More Than Just a Buzz
As Ayers snapped the now-viral photo of Shukla mid-trim, she gave the world a glimpse into the bizarre beauty of life beyond Earth. The clean lines of the ISS interior. The hum of precision tools. And Shukla, calmly receiving a haircut in what might be the most exclusive barbershop ever created.
In many ways, it’s the ultimate metaphor for space exploration: adapting the mundane into the extraordinary. Reimagining rituals for life in orbit. And finding new ways to stay grounded, even when gravity is quite literally gone.
What This Means For India’s Growing Space Legacy
India has been steadily carving its name into the stars with landmark missions like Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan. Shubhanshu Shukla’s mission, and now this seemingly simple haircut, adds a deeply human dimension to that legacy.
Because space isn’t just about rockets and research, it’s about people. And Shukla, with a fresh cut and a steady gaze, reminds us that even in orbit, style still matters.
As India awaits his return with bated breath, one thing is clear: when you look that sharp in zero-G, you’re ready for re-entry and ready for history.
