Welcome to the 188th insertion of DEMUR®, an analytical series highlighting the intricacies of the artistic world and the minutiae lying within. In this episode, we comb through the archives of rebellious and innovative hairstyles, explaining their significance and origin in counter-culture movements.
For most, hair is a universal trait, used as an expressional centrepiece in one’s appearance. Telling of interest, attitude, emotion and setting, it’s viewed by all, portraying a creative outlet in day-to-day life. Be it neon and braided or brown and mundane, hair characterizes our interior selves publicly, manipulated to frame the face through unique avenues. In fact, various hairstyles have become an accessory to sub-cultures, a critical and defining trait in select political and artistic niches.
Seen from the 1980s ‘Head Banging’ rockstars to our contemporary ‘Opium’ niche, obscure haircuts have played a critical role in separating individuals from the norm. Working to represent a form of allegiance to a select ‘tribe’ or coterie per se, styles like the 50s Teddy Boys’ greasy, moulded look, would act in a similar manner to a tattoo or piercing. In sharing headwear, members are associated with their group, representing joint ideologies and allegiance to a tribe.
The 70s unrest in punk/rock is another great example of unity in hairstyle. As youth in the UK grew tired of the long-haired Hippie community, the pendulum would swing towards a grotesque and rather abrasive aesthetic, prompting teens and adolescents to spike, shave and gel their hair. Obnoxiously large mohawks would debut alongside Liberty Spikes, using maximalism as a caveat for juvenile angst and outspoken detest.
In protest of wealth, power and ultimately control, even hairstyles removed from counter-culture per se act in a similar manner. Take the Monk’s shaved heads for example, or even Rastafarian’s dreadlocks, in either walk of life, these distinct attributes symbolize a common sense of strength. While entirely different in origin and purpose, as a community, these choices of appearance enact a sense of comradery, an ultimate demand for outspoken democracy.
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