Symbolic Hair Cutting

This character cuts their own hair to signify moving on from something.

The meaning comes from the Edo period, when samurai would cut off their top-knot (or chonmage) as a way of stepping down from their position.

To this day, this remains a symbol of a dramatic break with the past. This is one of those things that's mostly done for dramatic, symbolic effect in movies and anime. It's useful visual symbolism, looks dramatic, and makes for great storytelling, even if it doesn't come up often in real life.

Do not use if it's done only for cosmetic purposes.