One of the best things about being a man? One hairstyle is good for fifty years.
My father was a sharp man. He was a sharp dresser and impeccably groomed. He required no less of his sons as long as they were living at home and he was paying the barber.I’m sure many of my readers went through many of these styles. If they have the hair they probably use some of these styles today. Once upon a time I had — in less than four years — four of these styles. I measured my increasing maturity by how long my hair got. I note today that the further from home I got the longer my hair became.
Your host far from home in space as well as time.
Gerard Van der Leun
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Great photo! I’d say that in those years, my haircut was “whatever Lola wants.” In the 70s, it was long hair, and mine was a shoulder-width afro. Until I got in the army, that is. For some reason, I keep mine lower than the ones shown in the illustration. Call it the “army basic training” style.
Ah, youth, here and gone again like the fizz after you drop the Alka-Seltzer tablets into the glass. I remember fondly the days when I had long, flowing locks, a lion-like mane, or as my Dad put it, “hair like a girl.”
“One of the best things about being a man? One hairstyle is good for fifty years”. True, that. To take it a step further, a man in suit ‘n tie transported from 1940 could step onto the street today and attract no particular notice. On the other hand, a woman dressed in ’40 fashion, well, you get the idea.
Remus, if I saw a woman dressed in 40’s or 50’s fashion I’d fall to my knees in praise.
JWM
Aging is a bitch.
Since about the age of 12, except for that 4 year mistake I made from 74-78, my hair has been past my shoulders and always will be.
My USAF Officer Dad had the flattop til the day he passed. Sharp,clean,neater than neat.
He detested the long-haired male fashion,just could not fathom why any man could find it workable. Probably because he’d spent so much time in crapholes where clean water for washing was scarce.
Found a box of patterns at St Vincent de Paul thrift store,many,many moons ago. From the 30’s and 40’s. Patterns for everything from 30’s slinky dresses to gorgeous suits women wore in the 40’s. Treasure trove. Made a dressing gown, of deep blue white-dotted soft material,swirled around the form like a soft kiss. Lost now,in the many moves.
Still have the patterns.
All-time bestest 40’s designer? Vera West. Chunky chick who was Adrian’s disciple. Worked for Universal Studios,dressed the lovely ladies of that era’s horror flix,and so many more.
“…could not fathom why any man could find it workable. Probably because he’d spent so much time in crapholes where clean water for washing was scarce.”
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Long hair has been normal through most of human history – look at any picture of Washington or Jesus for example.
Lack of proper hygiene is more a product of upbringing and how one sees their self than anything else.
Style can be a master, to slaves.
I strive for harmony and balance between form and function in all things.
After a bout with long hair in the ’70s and varying shorter styles in the intervening years, I have returned with joy to the flattop of my childhood. Sometimes you can go home again. If you have straight hair and wear a motorcycle helmet, your best bet is very short hair or hair long enough to tie back.
A head of hair.
Ah yes, i dimly remember that.
You were a very pretty young man, Gerard! I mean that in a complementary way, too.
How many of you are getting your hair cut by a barber, and how many of you are getting your hair cut by a beautician?
HH: Haven’t been to a professional joint in decades, never liked people touching all over me. I have “fine” hair and way back when I don’t think I ever went in a joint run by wimminz and they didn’t gather about touching on it. When I was a young single buck it was somewhat tolerable but as I aged I grew out of it. Anyway, every couple months my wife trims off the split endz and other than that I do nothing cause it seems to grow to a certain length and then gets no longer. shrug
I’ve been told that very long hair must also be very thick, in diameter. It has to be able to support it’s own weight.
Ghost,
I used to have long hair. I saved the pony tail one day when I got a flat top. Wrapped it with a rubber band and put it in an old cigar box. 25 years later my daughter found it and it perfectly matched the color and curl of her hair.
Fairly recently I ran into the father of a teenhood friend. I had not seen the guy in 20+ years. He recognized me immediately, and without skipping a beat said “Ted! What happened to all your gold blonde hair?!!!’
#2 on the sides and a #4 over the top. Bought a heavy duty set of Wahl clippers 20 years ago, still in use today. Outside of 40 peso/75 cent haircuts in the Philippines I haven’t paid a barber since the 90s.