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At my university, there used to be a whole bunch of longhairs, at least considering how rare the longhair is nowadays, and awkward-length hair abounded. But all of a sudden, one of the more prominent longhairs (well, his hair was just shoulder-length, but everyone knew him by his big ol' curls) suddenly appears with some 5th-grader haircut, and then, like some disturbing assembly line thing, 80% of the longhairs suddenly cut off their hair, seemingly at a rate of one longhair a day. It was shocking. Even the awkward stage guys suddenly weren't in the awkward stage anymore, and I stopped being able to tell if people were still in the school or they'd simply cut their hair and dissolved into the crowd.
There are still a couple longhairs left, but I'm starting to worrry that I'm going to be the only one left on campus pretty soon. I don't plan to ever get MY hair cut, but it's discouraging, nontheless. Sure, some of the guys might decide to grow it back, but still. Sheesh. I know that a couple of the guys were in fraternities, and the frats here sometimes issue really weird haircut regulations that make mullets and rat tails look stunningly beautiful. Maybe that's the reason behind so many sudden cuts. There's one good reason not to join a frat.
On the other hand, it gives you a sense of pride to know you've still got your hair at the end of the day, and to feel like you're still one step above the crowd. Oh well. Yes, I'm done ranting now. :P
Well I sure hope you don't end up the last man standing!
There are always a few true longhairs that ride out the tide of fashion and you can just wait for the next wave of longish hair fashion to return and just smile to yourself knowingly...
I know. :) It'll be so cool to be one of the guys the aspiring longhairs see and look up to.
I just don't get why some of the guys cut it, though, if it's about fashion. It may be my opinion, but the majority of the guys looked a million times better with longer hair, and I even saw girls playing in their hair at times. The first kid to get his hair cut now looks like a little high-school kid, no exaggeration. Oh well, hakuna matata.
There's truth to that statement. For instance, I'm not about to get my locks lopped off because "it's fashionable" to do so. I made that mistake for a (now long ex-) girlfriend back in the mid 1980s, and I'm darned sure not to make it again for even lesser reasons!
I think that the prevailling wisdom some have proffered here is accurate: there are "born longhairs" and there are "casual longhairs". I suspect what you're seeing on your campus are the "casuals" going "annual" (and THANKS for that notion, whomever brought it up!).
Sounds like a bunch of sheep going with what is 'cool' or 'in' at the moment. One guy decided to cut his locks off and the others follow. bah bah bah bah....
lol, I agree. My other theory is that a bunch of them were forced to cut it for some fraternity thing.
Haha You a Fan of Old Mc Donald Had a Farm then Jean lol
Jesus spelt my username Incorrectally Now Grrrr at Jean
Samething happened at my school...my friend who had mid back long hair cut his hair then a few other kids with long hair started cutting it now theres only 3 long hairs in the school left.
There was a guy with mid-back hair at my school too. I used to see him every day because his hair was so distinctive, but I haven't seen him in weeks. I think he cut his hair and just doesn't stick out from the crowd anymore...
There are like 7 or 8 longhairs left at my school, but none of them have hair much longer than shoulder-length at the moment, or huge afros.
No surprise - this happens every spring.
As a hardy perennial longhair, you'll watch the "annuals" sprout, grow, bloom and die every year :)
- Oren
Nice theory, Oren.
So it must be a seasonal thing that occurs every year. Just like a blossoming garden of flower in spring, only to be gone by Autumn. The cycle repeats. This is definately a long haired theory i gotta sit down and think about. :)
Hey 80's,
They next thing they will be commenting (being polite) will be as the summer comes and the temps raise and want to cut it as it's too hot. That's an old wives talk keeps my neck from head from burning.
Omg I've survived 7 years and knowing how the erratic UK summers can be!!!
John.B
Yeah, the funny thing is, hair's never as hot as people think. I was surprised how cold my ears still were with my hair covering them when a cold front hit us recently.
LOL, I like that!
As a teacher I've seen a lot of longhairs and big afros on white kids this school year, a lot more than I've see in years particularly with our athletes. While I haven't seen widespread cutting this spring, I did see one of my ninth graders from last year come into school on Monday with a #4 buzz all over. His hair had previously been all one length, below the shoulders. When I saw him on Tuesday, I got a chance to ask him what prompted the new look. Seems he was slightly drunk (yes at age 15) at a party and someone suggested he get a cut. He called a friend and told him what he was going to do. The friend said go for it. The friend was in my classrooom with hin when we were talking. The friend who sports a big afro look said that if he was stupid enough to get drunk, that's what should happen to him. The other kid jokingly (I hope) said that when he stayed over his house the next time his fro would be gone.
I can honestly say that I liked the long hair on the kid, but the shorter cut does make the kid look older.
Will keep you abreast if I see the short hair trend coming back.
Hello Everyone,
Back in 1976, while I was growing out my hair for the first time, everybody started to cut theirs. On July 11 of that year, I was being reminded by my mom that long hair was out of style.
It seems that people are sheepish, and follow trends from televisions, MTV, magazines, or what have you.
It also seems, that a lot of people cut their hair in groups as the weather gets warmer. At the university where I work, ÙQAM, I haven't noticed any students change radically yet. In Montreal, the temperature is around 10 degrees now but there are people who let their hair grow during the colder months, and cut it for the summer. By their regular haircut, the hair may reach awkward stage or shoulder-length. Some people like switching from longish to very short. I do have a problem with those people since they change too much and ofthen some of them expect me to change my style.
I do not listen to trendy music, I do now even own a TV, since I just watch DVD's on my computer I am somewhat disconnected to what is trendy or not. I work in the Sciences complex where people couldn't care less about trends.
Looking in boutiques, I still see pictures of long-haired models, but I do not follow fashions as you know. I am my old self.
Amongst my colleagues, there are five longhairs around my age, and it seems they had long hair since 10-20 years and are not likely to change. As for students, I do notice that some will grow their hair for about three years and cut if off for jobs.
I also notice that today fashions change much faster than back in the seventies. When long hair got out of style back in 1976, people went from shoulder-length or beatles cut to simply exposing the bottom ear-lobes. Not too radical, and by 1979 it got to mid ears, and 1984 top of the ear to round the ears. It was gradual. It seems that today people want radical changes.
Have a nice day,
Georges in Montreal.
Hello Everyone,
As I mentioned earlyer, I am not too much touched by changes in fashions in hair, because in my age group, people tend to stick to their favorite styles, unless their genetic profile prevents them. I have seen some men who had short hair grow it back in their late thirties or early forties and stick to it. It seems, that at my age, peer pressure to conform is less relevant.
And now, here is a chronology of the ebbs and tides of long hair on men:
1976-1989 - After a period of acceptance in jobs and society in general that lasted from 1972 to 1976, people started to trim their hair a little shorter, and by 1985 the "Power haircut" for businessmen was in style. A lot of people who did not live throught the eighties believe that long hair was popular back then because of heavy metal. This was true for those attending metal concerts, there was lots of long hair in the crowds, however the metal crowd was not the majority of people. The same applies to deadheads, and "neo-hippies". Long hair was very visible in San Francisco throughout the eighties as well.
1989-1996 - As early as 1986 one can see the odd shoulder-length hair in fashion magazines. Mullets kicked in a return to longer hair, and by about 1991 mullets were replaced by full heads of hair, and ponytails were considered appropriate in some business environments. A lot of movies, like Braveheart, featured heroes with long hair.
1997-2000 - A sick trend was creeping in the campus and everywhere: The shaved head, and home-made crewcuts with clippers bought at K-Mart. The world was slowly becomming like THX-1138, the glare was unbearable. The shaved head was also the trademark of some skaters, who wore a goatie.
2001-NOW - The series of movies "Lord of The Rings" seemed to have influence some younger guys in wearing shaggies that looked more or less like hobbits. Shoulder-length hair was becomming more commonplace, and this time worn loose. Ponytails were reserved for work environments and other situations that required it. It seemed that loose hair was more commonplace.
I just hope that what is reported by Fallen_angels is only a local trend, and not something that gets generalized.
Have a nice day,
Georges in Montreal.
I love reading your posts. You are very insightful and knowledgeable. I can learn much from what you have to say.
A misconception of mine. I percieve the 80s as this glam decade of long hair and mullets. That is only my insight into the heavy metal world. The 80s corporate world was completely different and had short haired "power cuts". I forget that reality. Long hair was definately mainstream in the early 70s though, can't deny that.
Many conclusions could be drawn from Fallen_Angels's observation. Among them are:
1. The former longhairs liked Ol' Curly's new look and decided to follow suit.
2. The former longhairs couldn't take the hefty burden of non-conformity on their newly-divided shoulders! "Relievest me of mine cross, yonder sheep-shearer!"
