I saw the Barbie movie.
With pink pants on, my masculinity securely fastened, and the optimism of a coerced husband held at fingerpoint, I strut into the theater, prepared for just about anything.
Surrounded by bubbly, femme fatales, giddy with childhood nostalgia, I sank into the theater seat, ignored the sticky floor sucking the soles of my loafers, and waited for the journey to begin.
To say that I enjoyed the film would be a gross… well, it would just be gross. There were humorous moments, such as laughing at the discontinued Barbies of old that never made it to the shelves of local toy stores. Such failures included Midge the Pregnant Barbie and Growing Up Skipper, whose bust could grow. Yes, you heard that right; there was a growing boobs Barbie. An idea obviously born in a 1960s executive boardroom.
Despite what I thought of all these strange marketing flops, the Barbie movie begged the question: what does Barbie mean for barbers? More specifically, what does Ken’s role in the movie mean for the future of haircutting and fashion for men…
For those who haven’t seen the movie, Ken was portrayed as Barbie’s whimpering lap-dog, constantly yearning for Barbie’s affection. A portrayal that was quickly dashed once Ken discovered the patriarchy. Yes, the Barbie movie tackled the patriarchy.
But I’m not here to talk modern social philosophy. I’m here to talk about Ken’s hair.
So what did I learn through Ken? There was no doubt the writers of the movie relied heavily on an aesthetic reminiscent of the 1980s New Wave movement. Bleach blonde hair, gaudy clothes, and excess were Ken’s go-to’s. I won’t lie; it was funny, especially coupled with my bromance for Ryan Gosling, who always takes things with a light heart. For a split second or two, I nearly had a hankering to dye my hair to match a setting sun. Just for a second, though.
One thing is for sure; I definitely noticed a move away from the lumbersexuality that has dominated manscaping for some time now, towards a softer version of men’s grooming. Less hair and more flair are coming. The question remains: will barbers adjust to the new trend, or will they disintegrate into the fate of 1960s barbers who refused to change, paving the way for hairdressing to dominate men’s hairstyling for several decades following?
Time will tell. But one thing is certain, at Uomo Modern Barber, we’re going to stay ahead of the curve by offering highlights for any man that wants to embrace their own ‘Kendom,’ without forgetting the undeniable roots of Italian barbering, born of tradition, and steeped in the juices of self-reflection and confidence.
Comments are closed