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Caring about hair isn’t just for ladies. Men have had iconic hair just as often as women: Elvis Presley’s curl, Billy Ray Cyrus’ mullet, and, of course, Donald Trump’s kingly combover. But as gender roles begin to shake in their boots, a man’s interest in his hair is no longer considered feminine or unmanly—indeed, for many men, their hair represents their confidence, capability, and virility. Even the pompadour, that darling on decades past, is making its modern return.
According to CNN, about “two-thirds of men in the U.S. lose a substantial chunk of their hair by the time they are 35, and 85% have thinning hair by age 50.” These statistics have given rise to the hair transplantation industry, which boasts its ability to make men feel young again, to return to them their lost youth. CNN points to a study that suggests men with hair loss or baldness are perceived as less confident than their hairy, bearded counterparts; with social stigma historically against hairless men, it’s no wonder that men are interested not only in styling their hair, but also in keeping it—and, in so doing, displaying their individuality as well as their masculinity.
This list providing a general idea of the most popular men’s haircuts in 2015 includes a number of cuts with names that might typically be found geared towards women’s cuts. For example, the first option on the slideshow, the “angular fringe,” is more layered and less standard-looking than traditional men’s haircuts. The site even gives suggestions for what kinds of haircuts are suitable for different face shapes, a tip usually found in women’s media. The list also includes a messy-yet-groomed style reminiscent of James Dean called the “brushed up,” a fancy “side-part pompadour,” and a modern-style “undercut variation.”
The new diversity of men’s styles is refreshing to see—hair is an important piece of individual identity, for men and for women. Men’s hair today is much more varied and expressive than it previously has been, and so the change in attitude towards men’s interest in hair is a good sign that social constructs may be slowly fading.
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