My girl Dorothy got it right: we're not in Kansas anymore. We're entering a new world where the hours of hair primping and styling no longer exclusively belong to women—men are back in the hair game and leading the charge with the braid.
That's right, the simple twists that Dorothy once made famous are up for the taking and men are jumping at the opportunity to claim it. And I couldn't be happier. I once thought that frosted tips would be the pinnacle of my hair exhibitionism, but thankfully I was wrong.
On communion day, I decided I needed to take a fashion risk. After mass, I had changed out of my tweed hand-me-down suit and into a cool but casual outfit recently purchased at the Gap for the family after party.
But that wasn't enough for me. I proceeded to get my tube of temporary hair dye (blonde of course) and paint the colour on my fringe using the mascara-like wand. I was instantly cool and the talk of the town, naturally.
To this day, I struggle to find an as impressive hairstyle. I tried the faux-hawk and the buzz cut. I tried the crew cut and attempted long hair too, but there is nothing that sparks my interest like the "man braid" does. I'm viewing the innovation as a revolution in hairstyles and mine for the taking.
I'm totally trying for a #ManBraid this year pic.twitter.com/qeMlHw97NO
— Jeremy Ray (@jeremyyrayy) January 20, 2016
More and more men are taking on the braid—from top-knot ordained designs to French braids on long locks.
Is the #ManBraid the new #ManBun? What do you think, stylists? pic.twitter.com/Bmo1DpBRp2
— Schwarzkopf USA (@SchwarzkopfUSA) January 25, 2016
"Whether you're into braiding or not, the trend has been popping on social media for the past few weeks with dudes being bold about their twisted manes,"Mashable reports. How bold you ask? "Some have decided to create Heidi braids (that's braiding along the crown of the head), while others have opted for a cropped French braid." Yas, yas, yas!!!!
Move over #ManBun, #ManBraid is here! https://t.co/rpaISWbtWk pic.twitter.com/AVOlZm3arh
— Live 95.5 (@live955) January 19, 2016
It's finally my time! I'm growing out my hair and doing the braid. You mark my words.
Humour aside, the man braid (first the man bun) signals a big change in the male grooming world and also societal expectations. Taking the cue from fashion desingners, the lines are being blurred between what is feminine and masculine—what is socially acceptable and what's an embarassment. Increasingly, men are breaking away from heteronormative tropes and that's all stemming from the roots of a person's hair. That's pretty cool.
We may not be in Kansas anymore, but I'm liking the looks of this new world. The folks have good hair here, too.
Previously published on W Dish.
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