In her childhood Gerel had thick, long hair. Her grandmother combed it while reading mantras. Women had long hair, because they were supposed to be ‘close to earth’. The Kalmyks also believe that hair has magical powers. Once Gerel started to lose her hair. This coincided when Gerel got cross with her mother. A lama said to her that she needs to ask forgiveness from her mother. After Gerel and her brother did so, her hair stopped falling out.