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*The concept of monkhood is not unique to Buddhism. Jainism its older sibling, has its monks by the name of 'Shravans'. In fact, Monkhood was ubiquitous in medieval and pre-medieval Indian saintly traditions.

*Buddha didn't directly go to the 'Bodhi Tree'. He, in his quest for the 'ultimate answer', went to several saints and ascetics before retiring to solitary meditation (and all the time he lived the life of a hermit/monk/ or whatever terminology you may use). In the life stories of Buddha, the ' Buddha Charitras' as they are commonly called by laymen, his cutting of hair after leaving the palace (he had cut his hair even after parting from his charioteer) are described as a mark of renunciation of his princely life. This is stressed by the fact that even after his attainment of Buddhahood, he didn't return to live with his family. (And obviously, this conduct of Buddha is considered as an example by the monks who neither have family, not have any worldly possessions.) It was in this tune had I stressed that the Sikh hair suggest just the opposite.

* Buddha had long hair when he attained Buddhahood and thereafter throughout his life. The same can be seen in numerous statues and paintings of the Buddha.