Trump calls Sunita Williams ‘woman with wild hair’: Can astronauts cut hair in space?

Nine months in the orbit, an uncertain return date, and a malfunctioning spacecraft—yet what’s catching everyone’s attention? Sunita Williams’ hair.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday commented on the astronaut’s gravity-defying locks, calling her the “woman with the wild hair” while discussing her unexpectedly long stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore were supposed to return after just eight days, but a series of technical failures with the Boeing Starliner have left them stuck in orbit since June 2024.

Now, as NASA scrambles to bring them home—possibly with help from Elon Musk’s SpaceX —Trump’s comment about William’s hair has created a buzz, with many asking: How do astronauts, especially women with long hair, manage grooming in space? Let’s dive into the science behind space haircuts.

More from Explainers

Sunita Williams’ return to Earth delayed again: How long can astronauts live in space? 4 days to go: How Nasa plans to bring back Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore

But first, what did Trump say?

During a press conference in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump was asked about the delayed return of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. In his response, he referred to Williams as the “woman with wild hair.”

“We have two astronauts that are stuck in space. I have asked Elon (Musk), I said, ‘Do me a favour. Can you get them out?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He is preparing to go up, I think in two weeks,” Trump said.

Commenting on Williams’ zero-gravity look, he added, “And I see the woman with the wild hair, good, solid head of hair she’s got. There’s no kidding, there’s no games with her hair.”

He also made a lighthearted remark about the astronauts. “They’ve been left up there. I hope they like each other, but they’ve been… maybe they’ll love each other, I don’t know, but they’ve been left up there. Think of it.”

Editor’s Picks

1

Fly me to the moon: How do women handle their period in space? 2

How Elon Musk will help bring Sunita Williams back from space

Trump on two astronauts stuck in space: "Maybe they'll love each other, I don't know. But they've been left up there. Think of it. And I see the woman with the wild hair. Good solid head of hair she's got. There's no kidding. There's no games with her hair." pic.twitter.com/6a2JHVXFNO

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 6, 2025

Blaming his predecessor for delayed return of astronauts, Trump said, “Biden left them up there. He allowed that to happen to you, but this president won’t let it happen.”

When asked if he had a message for the two astronauts, Trump looked up dramatically, as if addressing them in space, and said, “We love you, and we’re coming up to get you."

With Musk readying a spacecraft for the astronauts’ return, it remains to be seen when the evacuation will take place. Meanwhile, Williams, 59, has made history during her stay, spending a record-breaking 62 hours and 6 minutes on spacewalks—the longest time ever recorded by a female astronaut.

Also read: Why gravity will be Sunita Williams’ biggest challenge after she returns to Earth

Hair care routine in space

First, the hair wash

Grooming in space is nothing like on Earth. Without gravity, hair doesn’t fall—it floats.

Astronaut Karen Nyberg, who spent 180 days in space—including 166 as a flight engineer on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2013—once explained how astronauts manage to wash their hair in microgravity.

With water being a precious resource in space, astronauts have to be mindful of how much they use. Instead of showers, they rely on foil-and-plastic water bags with straw-like nozzles. At most, they use about eight ounces (0.2 kg) of water for a single hair wash.

To start, they press the nozzle against their scalp and slowly release water, using their fingers to distribute it through their hair. Any stray water droplets that escape are carefully scooped back with cupped hands. The rest eventually gets pulled into the air-conditioning system, where it is recycled—often as drinking water.

Next comes the no-rinse shampoo, which is worked into the hair and brushed through with a comb. Astronauts then rub their scalps with a washcloth before adding a little more water to rinse. Finally, they pat their hair dry with towels—but carefully, since there’s no laundry in space. Once a towel gets too dirty to use, it’s discarded along with other waste."

And just like that, hair is clean and ready for a space haircut.

The space haircut

A simple haircut on Earth becomes a whole different challenge in space.

NASA spokesperson Lora Bleacher once told Reuters that astronauts use a special set of electric clippers equipped with a vacuum attachment to trim their hair. As one cuts, the vacuum just suctions up the hair that would otherwise float freely in microgravity.

“It’s not a pretty haircut, for sure. But it’s functional,” astronaut Frank Rubio, who holds the record for the longest time spent in space, had told NPR.

At the International Space Station (ISS), any stray hairs that escape the vacuum tend to gather near vent ports in the air circulation system, Bleacher explained. These vents are routinely cleaned by astronauts as part of their maintenance duties.

When it comes to shaving, astronauts stick to familiar tools. According to Bleacher, they use the same razors and creams as people do on Earth. Seems like even in space, some routines stay the same.

With input from agencies