One of Hong Kong's largest commodity store Watsons Thursday announced the results of a survey about hair and self-confidence which shows 96 percent of interviewees believed hair problem could affect social life.

Watsons conducted a survey last month which successfully interviewed 1,564 Hong Kong people. The survey aimed to gauge the impact of hair on social relationships.

Results of the survey indicated that hair can affect a person's mood, self-confidence and social performance.

Seventy percent people think that waking up with bad hair will affect their mood the most, much worst than failing to find the right outfit or having a dull look on their face.

"Hair is the index of health and vitality and bad hair is one of the biggest social turnoff because instinctively, people like to be with healthy people," said clinical behavioral psychologist Lee Po Nang.

Among the interviewees, 77 percent confessed that they have hair problems and 19 percent were prescient and worried that they eventually will.

Hair designer Pius Yiu said the most common problem is damaged hair and the wrong method in hair care. Since Hong Kong's climate is so wet and damp, he suggested people to have their hair washed daily or at least once every two days to keep them clean and light.

As a reassuring conclusion, 98 percent think hair is important to them, with 75 percent thinking hair affects appearance and image. Hair is the hygiene standard for 15 percent people, health index for six percent and personal taste for 4 percent.

Lee hopes that the percentage of people treating hair as a health index will increase over time because health is the pre-requisite to hygiene, personal taste and image.

With the increased self-awareness in the health of one's hair, there will be increased self-confidence and a balance in social life, said Lee.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2005)