Monks shave their heads for various reasons, including religious devotion, humility, and detachment from material possessions and societal norms. In Buddhism, shaving the head (and face) is part of Pabbajja, which is when a person leaves their home and "goes forth" to live the life of a Buddhist renunciate among ordained monks. It is a paramount step to becoming a monk. The practice of cutting or shaving some or all of the hair on the scalp as a sign of religious devotion or humility is known as tonsure. The bald head is a symbol of humility and the monks willingness to let go of vanity and personal appearance. It is also believed that this practice helps the monks to focus on their spiritual practices, without getting distracted by their physical appearance or grooming.