Throwback Thursday: A Look at Beijing's Bad Hair Days
Throwback Thursday takes a look back into Beijing's past, using our nine-year-strong blog archives as the source for a glance at the weird and wonderful of yesteryear.
New Year is a time for renewal and improvement, usually by voicing regrets or acknowledging prior misteps. For this New Year, we have decided to look back on bad fashion decisions before asking ourselves "How on earth did this ever become a thing?" Beijing is teeming with backstreet barbers and fake-fancy salons where everyone sports the same mushroom cut and skinny nylon "jeans". Back in 2010, we delved into the mind-bending world of Beijing street styles and attempted to justify (or at least understand) what was going on in the world of outlandish haircuts. How sweet.
Let's just start by saying that haircuts in China are often underappreciated. There are Instagram accounts and extensive collections dedicated to Beijing's wear-it-on-your-sleeve T-shirt wisdom, but far fewer that detail the fabulous world of hilarious haircuts (no judging, this is a safe place).
Children's coiffures are often the hottest masterpieces in town and they don't even know it. However, this time we'll take a look at some slightly older subjects. The picture below may be eight years old – featuring the good ol ' Asian blond with a can of hairspray dumped on it – but haircuts like this still parade the streets of Beijing, especially if you venture past the Third Ring Road. This one's particularly embraced by hairdressers themselves or their close friends (who are likely cashing in for free).
As a Westerner with curls, waves, a bird's nest or twist 'n' turn kind of hair, I know that hairdressers in Beijing rarely know how to deal with the nuances of unruly hair (for under RMB 300 that is). It's great for strict bobs but not so great for wild beach cuts. That's why the above's attempt at volume is admirable and encouraged, but sadly the result still brings to mind a Guns 'n' Roses tribute or dearest auntie Rosie (bless her soul).
The question is, will this style ever go away? What will it be replaced with when it does finally vanish into the ether of time? We may not be around to ever find out.
One hairstyle that quietly went away as Millenials got their way were dreadlocks. Think of the last time you've seen a dreaded head in the street. Now think of how many there were 10 years ago.
Oh, the horrors poor Anhui grandmas had to witness when their most-loved grandkid came home for Spring Festival with matted fingers of hair. The south-to-north water diversion project may not have been the most successful anti-drought scheme ever undertaken, but really? Is there such little water in Beijing?
Put this little number on a background of neon colors and label it "The Worst of Highschool Pictures" or "The Best Indie Band You've Yet to Hear Of." Yes, still prominent in Eastern Europe, most of Russia, and among hutong-dwelling six-year-olds, le mullet is an entirely different – and apparently invincible – haircut unto itself. Let's be honest, it takes real guts to grow the back out for five years, just to realize what a terrible mistake you've made, and then have to wait for the front to catch up.
Haircuts divide us into generations more than any cut of jeans will. With sidecuts and long-grown tops ruling men's hairstyles for a good five years already, it's about time the tables turn. When they do – beware, for the hair you've been cultivating all this time might need a serious makeover and you may not want to trim the back just yet.
Images: Dailymail, Cool Fun Pics, the Beijinger
