“Skinhead, get a haircut!” The admonition is almost ritual in many Skinhead circles. The Skinhead culture has a number of signifiers: boots, braces, the flight jacket, beached jeans. Because clothing can be put on and taken off, it is the close cropped or shaved head that is the mark par excellence of a Skinhead. But why the emphasis on the shaved head? Hair is often a mark of individuality. Hair color and choice of hair style are very visible marks of individuality. When a man commits to a community or culture, to a brotherhood, larger than himself a surrender of a measure of individuality is often a hallmark of that belonging. Military recruits are shorn to form them into a part of the larger military formation. High school and collegiate sports teams will sometimes shave heads or other body parts before an important competition to build esprit de corps. At a more serious level, in hand to hand combat hair can provide a handhold to your adversary.
A Skinhead is not a man making a particular fashion statement. A Skinhead is a man who commits himself to a particular brotherhood, a community, an ethic of taking responsibility for self and others. A skinhead values, and will fight for, the stability and viability of his community rather than mere wealth or fame. A skinhead stands with his mates rather than for himself alone.
A Skinhead’s cropped skull is an aggressive statement that he belongs to a brotherhood. It is a visual reminder that the Skinhead is one of a band of brothers. It is a warning that he will fight for what he holds dear.
The daily ritual of clipping or shaving the head is a daily reaffirmation of “Being Skin.” The common and also ritualized greeting where Skins rub each others heads or rub their heads together is a powerful reminder of the shared brotherhood. Skinhead is always a way of life.
“Skinhead, get a haircut!”
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