Harry Styles Instagram picture prompts hysteria among One Direction fans

The One Direction singer appears to have chopped his locks off for charity, but fans are not happy

Harry Styles (Getty Images)

Never has the suggestion of a haircut sparked such an outpouring of grief and panic as when Harry Styles appeared to break the news that the ponytail was finally gone.

The One Direction star chopped off his beloved locks for the Little Princess Trust, a charity which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair because of cancer.

A picture of what appeared to be his ponytail was met by hysteria from One Directioners, who are now waiting with baited breath to see what the results are.

The deeper significance of Styles' hair to One Directioners was apparent in measured reactions such as: “I'm not even kidding right now I'm crying,” “nobody understands how emotional this makes me,” and “yes it's good that he donated his hair but if you were a real directioner you would understand how much his hair means to us.”