Obviously, the single most important element of skinhead fashion is the hairstyle.
Short, close shave or bald?
The hair of a skinhead is either short or shaved.
Despite the name skinhead, early skinheads actually had short hairs instead of the closely shaved, nearly bald look that many skinheads of today have.
The hairstyle had three advantages:
- Practical: a short hair is easy to maintain and practical in brawls
- Economic: a buzz cut is affordable. Everyone could do it at home and didn’t have to go to a barber
- Superficial: especially in the 1960s, the era of the long-haired hippies, a closely shaved head popped out from crowds and looked rough
Sideburns
Especially traditional skinheads often have sideburns, but other facial hair (beard, moustache) is not a part of the traditional skinhead look.
A-Z of skinwear
Shaver
An electric shaver, also called barber’s clippers, are widely available and pay for themselves after a dozen haircuts Wahl is the top brand and comes complete with plastic clip-on settings so you can have a number one, two, three or four at the flick of a wrist. Keep well-oiled for a lifetime of service.[1]G. Marshall, Spirit of ’69: A Skinhead Bible, 1994
Skinhead girl hair
Skinhead girls typically have a chelsea cut (also called feathercut): bangs on the front and short hair on the back.
A-Z of skinwear
Feathercut
Girl’s hairstyle, originally a lot longer and a lot more subtle than some of the girls you see today with friar tuck type cuts. Originally the top was cropped, but not shaved, and so longer. Often the fringes are bleached a different colour to the top too. Causes split ends, particularly if you use the good old steel comb.[2]G. Marshall, Spirit of ’69: A Skinhead Bible, 1994