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When did Singapore finally legalise long hair on guys?
Late 70's? Early 80's? That would be my guess but I'd also be interested in an accurate answer to this
I don't know when they lifted the ban on guys with long hair in Singapore but one of our guys with really long hair lives there.
Scott
Surprise, surprise, long hair is STILL NOT LEGALISED in Singapore! In Singapore, there are a couple of laws which are still in-place since the 60s, which are not amended and, at the same time, not enforced. One is long hair on men, two is being gay is illegal and three is oral sex not leading to intercourse is illegal, and many more. These laws are no longer enforced (it's been more than 20 years since anyone was last charged in court for these offences), but they CAN BE enforced anytime when they wish to!
The long-hair law says "Men must sport a masculine, cropped hair", there used to be incidences where long-haired guys are barred from clearing the immigrations, until they agree to be brought to the barber in the airport and get their hair cut. One classic example is Kitaro (the long-haired Japanese musician), he supposed to hold a concert here in the 80s, but refused to bend to the law, he cancelled his concert and flew back to Japan immediately. He subsequently returned in the late 90s (upon assurances from the government that he will not be prosecuted for his long-hair) and successfully held a concert here. This law is no longer enforced ever since Singapore opened up its immigration laws and encouraged creativity and the arts.
For one, I am a Singaporean with long hair to my butt, and I have got no problem clearing the immigrations with my hair intact.
I don't know when exactly Singapore relaxed on enforcement of its anti-long hair on men law I know back in 1981, government counter staff were being told not to refuse to serve men with long hair, when previously men with long hair were to be served last.
It was in 1969 when the anti-long hair on men law was introduced as a measure to prevent hippies entering Singapore, since hippies were regarded a bad influence on the youth of Singapore with their association with the drug culture and so on.
Back then too, "long" hair mean't hair down to your shoulders or collar compared to what's considered long today.
It was during the 1970s when Singapore was reportedly strict on the long hair rule but by 1981, I noticed quite a few long haired men, both Asian and Caucasian and members of one of the Singapore's well-known rock bands, Sweet Charity had very long hair.
One of my American friends, a software engineer with very long hair told me that in the 1990s, the attitude towards long hair in Singapore was that now long haired men aren't regarded as hippies but as computer specialists whose skills are valued.