FADS
MEN’S HAIRSTYLES 1970s – 2000s
1960s the mop top
Long hair on American males during the 1960s were worn by a very small group of people, mostly artists of that time. “Longhairs” was a dismissive way of referring to certain classical musicians. Enter The Beatles. They came to America with the mop top hairstyle. With clean-cut, short hair being the norm before The Beatles, the longer, more straight style immediately shook America and gave the band an image. The mop top began to take a life of its own. Beatle wigs were sold in stores across the country. Comedians used it for inevitable laughs during their skits. Young adults and children wore it. It was considered “cool because The Beatles have it.” As time went on, when the group evolved their hair to more lengthy styles, the mop top slowly started to fade away. Nevertheless, it will never be disassociated with The Beatles.
1970s the afro
As a result of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, the identity of African American people were altered for the progression of how these people were viewed by the rest of the United States. This change resulted in a different physical image with an appreciation for hairstyles being a predominant symbol. This movement marked a return to more natural, untreated hairstyles. The afro was embraced by both men and women, because it was easier to take care of compared to hairstyle such as braids or short, tapered hair that needed to be cut every couple of weeks or so. This hairstyle was a symbolic because of the natural look it had. It didn’t force people to make trips to the barber shop, which were costly and time-consuming. The popularity of the afro hairstyle among African Americans had started to die down by end of the 1970s. As the afro became mainstream to the point where non-African Americans were adopting it, the meaning and purpose of the afro became less impactful.
1980s the mullet
Business in the front, party in the back. The mullet was a way for people to express themselves freely, without being judged or frowned upon. They were badges of honor and rugged, rebellious individualism. Not everyone had the guts to wear a mullet. Predominantly worn by white men, this hairstyle became popular in the 1980s. There was no cultural reason why the mullet became a fad, other than it being a way for people to show their passion, but also have fun. People who had mullets knew they were being stereotyped as unfashionable and unintelligent, but they didn’t care because they knew who they were more than anyone. The mullet was popular in the 1980s, but began to wear off at the turn of the century. One reason could be that the world was becoming more and more judgemental due to the rise of the fashion and physical appearances, and less people were strong enough to maintain a mullet.
1990s the flat top
In the late 1980s, the jheri curl began to decrease in popularity; just another fad in men’s hairstyles. To replace this, people wanted to grow their hair in a way that has never been thought of before. The flat top was born. This haircut features the sides trimmed short and the top longer and shaped up, almost resembling a square. Flat tops were most famously sported by African Americans involved in the hip hop scene. It was a way for rappers to stand out and brand themselves. It was unforgettable to everyone who saw this hairstyle. In hip hop, image is everything. A way to make one’s image noticeable is with the hair. In the early 1990s, the flat top was symbolic because of the effect it had on appearance.
2000s the frosted tips
The 2000s saw a popularization of alternative/pop band groups. Along with them, came the frosted tips haircut. This hairstyle is achieved by using hair sprays and gels to create spikes. The hair is also dyed lighter to add additional dimension to the look. It could be accomplished with different lengths of hair, from finger-length to more than a couple of inches. The style was equally popular among international pop stars and high-schoolers throughout the decade. It was a way for bands to reach a younger generation. Totally different from other men’s hairstyles, it was short lived as the generation of people grew older and did not carry over to other generations.