It is a myth that beauty is an industry which is exclusively female. Men, in fact, see glory in their personal style and use their lovely locks to express themselves, and as an extension of their personalities.
Men and hair are often linked together in controversial terms, though history has been on and off about supporting the long, or fancy hairdos. In recent times, there was the concept of the ‘dirty hippie’ which umbrellaed the image of men decorating their hair, but even in the 21st century, there are some stereotypes associated with men fashioning their hair in a certain way. It is seen as something outside the unsaid social conventions. Seeing celebrities embrace gender-fluid style choices suggests that the society has modernised past the ancient stereotypes. But, at the grassroot level, the reality may seem a little different.
Seemingly unimportant things like young boys being mistaken for girls when they sport long hair, or grown men being bullied for putting too much effort into their appearance tells that we still have a long way to go. “I received hate and sexist comments when I started donning hair accessories,” says Vaibhav Tekchandani, a University of Delhi student. He goes on to say that he never considered it a big deal, and went on with it anyway. However, we firmly believe that there is no reason for men to hold back on expressing themselves, and really stand out in a crowd.
Be it sporting intricate braids, a man-bun, or simply covering your head with a cap, there is not a shred of masculinity that goes awry. On the contrary, it just verifies the point that you are your own individual and see yourself in a particular light. From David Beckham and Zac Efron to Zayn Malik and Justin Bieber in a beanie – they have all proved a point. Christ himself had long hair! It would be safe to say that we are entering an age where men are not shying away from adorning themselves. “I think we should keep experimenting with our hair,” says Ayush Chauhan, another student of DU. “Styling my hair with a bandana, or a headband makes me feel refreshed as a person.”
There are many ways men can style their hair. Headbands are especially practical for men with longer hair, because it keeps them away from the face, while adding a million dollars to the overall look. Secondly, caps and beanies always give that edgy look. Since we are still in the colder months of the year, woollen head-clothes should be the go-to option for boys to beautify themselves. If you are striving to achieve a cool, standoffish air, bandanas are usually the best option. Besides, it protects hair from getting damaged in the wind or the sun. Tying your long hair up is another option. Pinterest seems to be clouded by hairstyle tutorials for women. It doesn’t have to be that way. Men have the right to tie their hair in a ponytail, braid, or bun whenever they wish. Chauhan leaves us with the ending line: ‘Boys who decorate their hair are beautiful.’
Featured Image Credits- MenXP
Maumil Mehraj
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