By Pete Nowak
Long hair on men has always been hip. Men should be proud of their long hair at this point in history, as we are on the even of a new revolution in hair. The historic repression of long-haired males is about to resume after a period of falling out (no pun intended). But before ye betressed ones read on about your upcoming fate, sit back and learn the history of your elongated follicles.
In the Bible, just about everyone had long hair, except Judas, and look where he ended up. History has had its share of mythical and actual long-haired heroes, ranging from Samson to Beethoven; from Thor to Louis XIV. But despite its historic coolness, long hair has never been accepted in the fashion circles of Paris and Rome. Fashion runways have modelled short-haired men since their inception. Rarely has a designer created a trend based on lengthy, silky male tresses. This denial caused long hair to develop its symbolic tie with rebellion; he who grew his hair rebelled against the world of fashion. During the ’60’s, hippies redefined this spirit of rebellion by making the hairstyle their badge of honour. Until the early ’80’s, long hair was synonymous with refuting authority. Then, when the “glam rock” era hit, long hair became institutionalized. It became the mainstream. If you were a musician in the ’80’s, you weren’t cool unless you had the tools with which to headbang.
With the invention of television, fashion found the means to contact millions of people. it was no longer confined to the exclusive Paris hautre couture houses. The advent of MTV, a medium directed toward adolescents, gave fashion the power to appeal to a new audience. Youths were now exposed to the glamor and glitz of the industry, as purveyed by their idols. David Lee Roth and Gene Simmons could now bring their rebellion into the living rooms of pre-pubescent teens everywhere. Music began to have an influence on fashion because of MTV. Kids began dressing like their idols and some even dared to grow their hair, much like their ex-hippie parents once did. By the late ’80’s, the indoctrination of North American youth into the long hair culture was complete.
This was the state of things until recently. The cool kids in school during the ’80’s were always the long-haired Def Leppard and Ratt fans. Short-haired guys were simply ostracized and branded as Tiffany fans. This sad state of affairs continued until the recent “alternative revolution.”
The early stages of the alternative revolution actually promoted long hair on males. The leaders of the alternative revolution,Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Soundgarden, generally continued the accepted trend of wearing long hair. These bands clung to the notion that long hair was still rebellious and dangerous. It wasn’t until the second phase of the revolution that long hair was discarded as something that was trite and unthreatening. Bands that rode the tailcoats of the vanguard started sporting short hair, scoring points with the incredibly wide audience which the revolution had attracted. Soon the forerunners of the revolution joined their offspring in doffing their locks. Gone with the ’80’s was the “booze, party and fuck” attitude. The revolution replaced these values with serious issues like crime, equality and abuse. Music was forced to adapt to this change in attitude. Acts that stayed with the old maxims are almost unilaterally nonexistent now. If an artist did not come across as serious, they were done.
This is a large reason for the re-emergence of short hair today as the norm. Well known “booze-rock” acts like Bon Jovi, Van Halen and the Cult have all changed their look somehow, most noticeably in the mane department. By paying a visit to the Play-Doh Mop Shop, musicians hope to lengthen their career life. And it works too! The next time you see a Bon Jovi video, take a moment to recall him in the full splendor of his amber-tinded locks. Now look at him. Even though it’s really hard to take Bon Jovi seriously at the best of times, it’s a little easier now.
So long hair is now stigmatized as part of the glam rock phase of western culture, and keepers of the faith are ostracized, the same way long-hairs once ostracized short hairs. The negative side to this is that long-haired guys are no longer cool. The positive side is that long-haired men have had the honour brought back into their ‘do. Within the next few years, long hair will once again be a symbol of rebellion and male youths can again be proud to grow it. The next few years mark the progression of a new revolution in which long-haired males can return to the days of “sex, drugs and rock & roll.” The serious stuff can be left to the short-haired guys; it’s their job to deal with that stuff. The long-haired men will stick to what they do best: being cool.
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