Why guys are getting crew cuts and shaved heads, with a useful style note to gals and guys

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Tuesday, April 25. 2017

Why guys are getting crew cuts and shaved heads, with a useful style note to gals and guys

It's not so much fashion as it is that it has finally become acceptable for straight civilian guys. Minimal-to-no head hair means no shampooing, no combing, no hat-hair issues, no bed-head issues, no bald spot issues, no "What haircut?" or "Where is my part?" issues.

Men aren't women, so why should they have to bother with good hair? Women in my world need to look well-groomed and well-cared for, with well-cut and styled hair (and good nails) but men just have to look clean and neat. The only downsides for guys are sunburn potential and looking stupid, but that's a good trade for the hassle. On a dare, this weekend I am going to get it all cut off for summer.

Ladies, if you have unstyled hair or long hair over 35 most women look homeless, deranged, like a WalMart shopper, or like a refugee from Maine. Guys, if you have long hair over 35 you look dangerously homeless or mentally-disturbed unless you look Hollywood-glamorous-cool that way or are an eccentric billionaire.

Discuss -

(Note to commenter: Melania Trump is not "most women")

Posted by The News Junkie in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 17:40 | Comments (32) | Trackbacks (0)

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I've never worn my hair terribly long, but in the last year, I've taken to getting a much shorter haircut than I've had since, oh, football season my senior year of high school (1970). Surprisingly, my wife really likes it. Also, it means that I only get my hair cut about once every 2 1/2 to 3 months. :-)

#1 bfwebster (Link) on 2017-04-25 17:58 (Reply)

I was told by my barber, who I visit every 4 to 6 weeks, that guys with super short cuts come in every 7 to 10 days. Young, stupid, look like work- release people, but supposedly Cool.

#2 Oldblood on 2017-04-25 18:11 (Reply)

So it's good for the working man

#3 Bird Dog on 2017-04-25 18:17 (Reply)

I don't understand why any man wouldn't go for it. My husband has never had much hair. We keep his about 1/8" allover and I can do it with inexpensive clippers from Walmart whenever he needs it.

#4 mary on 2017-04-25 18:21 (Reply)

My idea of a man with an excellent haircut was Albert Einstein.

#5 tom swift on 2017-04-25 19:47 (Reply)

Women over 35 with long hair might also look like hippies.

#6 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2017-04-25 20:00 (Reply)

If you remember the Brylcream commercials you should not have long hair...even if you still have hair.

#7 rocdoctom on 2017-04-25 20:17 (Reply)

I wear my hair long and straight. It's normally in a ponytail. Sometimes I put it up in a bun to be more formal. I'm pretty sure it doesn't make me look homeless.

#8 Texan99 on 2017-04-25 20:43 (Reply)

Texan99, you don't understand. A woman over 35 by her very existence is offensive.

All we can do as women over 35 is bow and scrape and hope to get permission to keep existing.

#8.1 JM01 on 2017-04-25 20:54 (Reply)

I always liked my grandmother's hair, which had never been cut. She braided it and put the braid up in an old-fashioned bun. After she was debilitated by a stroke, she cut it off and had it permed, which was horrid.

If I got to where I couldn't wash and take care of my hair, I'd chop it off short in a pixie, I guess. Fussing with a perm or anything of the sort is absolutely not in the cards. I'd shave my head first.

Having survived to a comfortable retirement without hairspray, make-up, or any of that silliness, why would I start with any of it now? We're sure not one of those house-hunting couples who shriek in horror at a bath that lacks two sinks, so we can both "get ready" at the same time.

#8.1.1 Texan99 on 2017-04-26 09:30 (Reply)

Well said. More idiotic "fashion" advise from people who won't be happy until everyone looks exactly the same as they do.

#8.2 JTW on 2017-04-25 23:34 (Reply)

You should wear what looks good on you, not what someone says.

Personally I like well kept long hair on women of any age, certainly my wife ( who is moving toward 60) looks fine with it. I've always hated the 'smart mature lady' cuts. Sheesh, may as well wear a moo moo.

#9 jay on 2017-04-25 21:02 (Reply)

Umm, I guess Melania Trump now looks like a deranged homeless bag lady. Who knew? And Ivanka is a good six months over 35. Guess she looks equally homeless, deranged and "gasp" a Walmart shopper! Lord, please spare us the dreaded Walmart shopper! What could be more offensive to the delicate, perfumed sensibilities of the news junkie? If only news junkie could have a world in which long hair on ladies over 35 did not exist. Does anyone have smelling salts for the poor dear? What a lousy elitist, stupid comment.

#10 Kristi Herman on 2017-04-25 21:28 (Reply)

I agree with you completely. Those comments are horribly judgmental and beneath the dignity of this website. Shame on you. Many, many women have long gorgeous hair. This speaks volumes to your shallow nature. Wear your hair however you want, don' t listen to such dribble.

#10.1 Pocono pam on 2017-04-26 04:28 (Reply)

Jerry Hall doesn't look like a Wal-Mart shopper! Older women with thin lifeless hair can cut it, get a weave or extensions or wear it in a bun. Mom-bob isn't the only answer.

#11 Grace on 2017-04-25 21:38 (Reply)

If you see a woman over 35 that spends too much money and time on hair, nails, and pointy shoes, my advice is to walk away quickly. Whatever you do, don't hire her or date her. Too much maintenance and she'll spend all of your money.

#12 Jack Walter on 2017-04-25 22:01 (Reply)

My hair is shorter than it was in college or in my 30s, but is far from a crew cut- maybe 4-6 inches in most places, 2 inches at the neck. I trim in front of a mirror when it seems too long. Saves the half hour trek to a barber shop.

I have a bias against crew cuts, perhaps courtesy of hitching through Amarillo during my college days, where I was beaten up by two crew cut chaps for having hair too long for their liking. Like another commenter, I associate crew cuts with institutions. I have a twenty-something neighbor with a crew cut who is the spitting image of Aaron Hernandez. Not that I tell him that, mind you. We all have our stereotypes.

My employer has a crew cut. I have worked with him for 16 years. We get along fine.

#13 Gringo on 2017-04-25 22:15 (Reply)

Here's my take on "masculine" hair: men who have never stood up to the women in their workplace (or their mothers); have never been in the military--these guys need to "look" like their men (real men). Haircuts (or the absence of hair) is a silent protest that cannot be penalized by anyone! They are real cowards!

#14 faculty wife on 2017-04-25 23:14 (Reply)

I don't need to worry about it. Bald is blessed.

#15 marvin loopstra on 2017-04-25 23:14 (Reply)

I hope you folks understand that I was only referring to those younger guys who shave their hair--not to you guys who have gone bald naturally. I agree--bald is beautiful when it comes on naturally.

#16 faculty wife on 2017-04-25 23:33 (Reply)

A lot of data to back up this point of view. In a recent survey participants rated photos of digitially-shaved (bald) men.
RESULTS:
•The shaved pictures were rated as more dominant, confident, masculine, older, taller, and stronger.
•The unshaved pictures were rated as more attractive.
•There was no difference between shaved and unshaved in norm violation and leadership ability.
In other words, not only did digitally “shaving” the men cause them to appear more masculine, dominant, and confident, it also caused people to overestimate their physical size and strength! Others have noted that men shave their heads when making commitments (religious, military, coming-of-age rites, athletes), which conveys decisiveness and dedication.

For me, bald is too much work (and shave cream in the eyes stings like a bitch). A clipper once a week at home does the trick.

Just don't forget the sunscreen!

#17 Honordads (Link) on 2017-04-26 01:44 (Reply)

Note to News Junkie: One need meet certain cosmetological standards in order to be let OUT of the fine State of Maine... the women you describe are not refugees, but, in fact are all still here.

Fortunately for us, here in Mid Coast Maine, being obedient Leftists, most older women sport crew cuts, while the older men sport either dork-knobs or full-blown ponytails.

Also: The women drive. The men are passengers.

#18 The Distributist (Link) on 2017-04-26 07:45 (Reply)

Long hair contributes to a womans beauty at all ages.

#19 bgarrett on 2017-04-26 09:35 (Reply)

GI. Retired for 42 years, but still GI. Grew up with it, served with it, ran my own business with it, retired for good with it, all without giving it much thought. I was always too busy to worry about whether my haircut was in style.

#20 BillhH on 2017-04-26 09:58 (Reply)

I ride a motorcycle and almost to my waist, long hair works for me. I don't care what people may think. Oh, it's grey too!

#21 uplate on 2017-04-26 10:36 (Reply)

Well said. After 40 years of the bog standard male haircut every hair "salon" here does unless you explicitly tell them not to (which we call coup stahlhelm because it looks like someone put an old WW2 German helmet on your head and cut everything that peeks out) I decided to grow my hair longer.
Looks better, covers my balding scalp too.

#21.1 JTW on 2017-04-26 11:58 (Reply)

Maybe I should mention, I am a woman. I have an 1800 cc Indian.

#21.1.1 uplate on 2017-04-26 17:10 (Reply)

I keep my hair clipped short, particularly since it has gone grey. It's easier to keep clean and neat and doesn't show the thinning hair. It does mean I have to wear a hat during the summer months to keep the scalp from burning, but then I usually wear a hat, so it's no big deal.

#22 DCE (Link) on 2017-04-26 11:26 (Reply)

Visually long straight hair on an older woman makes the natural loss of facial volume more pronounced, hence the sometimes homeless look, particularly if hair is thin and gray. As for men, I am not a fan of puffy gray hair, and think a short clip, not a buzz cut, can be very attractive in men of a certain age. If the head is beautifully shaped and the skin is nice, shaved looks great. Shaved looks better than a mostly bald head with longish, collar grazing fringe. Gray ponytails on men work best with rugged, strong features and a tan or olive complexion. I seriously hate man buns.

#23 MissyW on 2017-04-26 12:09 (Reply)

Guys with shaved heads look like Uncle Fester to me.

#24 Blondie Utronki on 2017-04-26 12:41 (Reply)

Long hair on women looks terrific...short hair looks...gender confused. I had hinneys as a kid, all courtesy of Mom and the hand operated clipper... and of course throughout basic training in the 60's. Now its 2-4 inches long and parted and also very gray but no bald areas yet.

#25 indyjonesouthere on 2017-04-26 13:33 (Reply)

From my observation, shaving your head is the new comb-over, intended to disguise that you're going bald.

#26 Christopher B on 2017-04-26 16:00 (Reply)

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Tuesday, April 25. 2017

Why guys are getting crew cuts and shaved heads, with a useful style note to gals and guys