Gay male hairstyles

Haircuts and styles are inherent to the cultural vestiges of queer identity. Following that failed exercise in baby dykedom I happily grew out my disastrous coif for some varying degree of a bob and retired to my gay leggings, sequined skirts, and diaphanous sheaths. Endless tendrils of glistening black hair and a sexy dishabille of serpentine curls seemed to become the femme de rigeur at many a queer establishment.

Like a mandala, hair and personal style are their own evolutionary processes that have practically become nucleic to queer aesthetics. The unique cross cultural history of hair as a matrix that exists within and without the fashion system as a signifier and the signified makes this an all too relevant topic not to explore.

In my effort to better understand hair in the realm of queer culture I surveyed a breadth of stylists and salons that specifically cater to a queer clientele hear their insights…. My first stop was the Green point-based barber shop Tomcats. Recommended to me by a slew of various individuals Tomcats has become a favorite known for their crisp barber cuts, relaxed setting, and the complimentary Gay with every cut.

Three years ago co-Owner and barber Joey Covington opened Tomcats in the hopes of cultivating more creative styles in an open environment. Badlands is based in Park Slope, Brooklyn has become a noteworthy favorite amongst the queer community. Openly queer and with a predominantly queer staff as well, Novella was looking for a space where queer people can come in and feel safe, supported and inspired.

Novella has expanded the stylistic horizons by using clippers, which can only be found in barbershops. When I asked her what specific trends or styles she finds popular amongst her queer clientele she lists, buzz cuts, Boardwalk Empire style updated military cuts, bobs and bi-levels shaved on one male and longer on the other.

In my quest to continue to understand the breadth of all that is hair and queer culture I had the enlightening opportunity to speak to two openly queer stylists Liz Wright of Muze Salon and Bronwyn Karle. In your experience as a stylist what would you define as or is there such a hairstyle a queer hair cut? LW: In my hairstyle this is a bit tricky to answer.

There are definitely haircuts that are much more male within the queer community. BK: When I think of queer haircuts I envision a broad range of styles that span from very versatile, androgynous, low-maintenance short and medium length cuts all the way to every fantasy shade of over-the-top, highly styled masterpieces.

How would you define queer style in terms of hair and how has it changed over time? LW: Queer style fascinates me. I find a lot of my queer clients want something edgier, quirkier, and more individualized. Oftentimes gender and what society tells us that should look like comes into play with a style someone wants to create.

Gay Haircuts for Men: What's Trending in 2024?

I have clients looking to intentionally fuck with gay norms for one reason or another. As far as how queer style has changed I think the internet has done a good deal to broaden visibility for our community, perhaps allowing us to be more comfortable with who we are? I see more people now than ever treating their hair as an actual expression of their queerness, so to speak, almost as an accessory of sorts.

Queer hairstyles tend to break these rules much male frequently, in extremes and tend to evolve synonymously with queer fashion; with functionality and elegance being key themes. Queer people are continuously creating more and more hairstyle of making beautiful things wearable. As we develop it becomes less unusual to express ourselves loudly.

I think these expressions of ourselves have changed and are changing because we are becoming more of an individualized culture that looks more towards maximizing our own uniqueness rather than trend-chasing.