NYT: A Haircut Returns from the 1930s

**Alaia** · November 17th, 2011, 06:31 AM

I know loads of guys at the theatre who have that haircut and they definitely have no idea it may ever have had anything to do with the Hitler Youth!

Those who ask specifically for "a hitler youth" cut are a bit ... interesting... though.

**QMacrocarpa** · November 17th, 2011, 07:10 AM

This cut pre-dates the 1930's. Looking at the photos, my first association was with Julian Sands' cut in A Room with a View, a close adaptation of a book published in 1908. Even if they changed the time-frame of the story a bit in the film, it's definitely pre-World-War-I.

I also thought of the "Arrow Collar Man", and here's an Arrow ad from 1920, two years before the Hitler Youth existed.

**ktani** · November 17th, 2011, 07:49 AM

Originally Posted by QMacrocarpa

This cut pre-dates the 1930's. Looking at the photos, my first association was with Julian Sands' cut in A Room with a View, a close adaptation of a book published in 1908. Even if they changed the time-frame of the story a bit in the film, it's definitely pre-World-War-I.

I also thought of the "Arrow Collar Man", and here's an Arrow ad from 1920, two years before the Hitler Youth existed.

That is not what I see when I look at actual pictures of the cut on propaganda from the time.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...hitler%20youth
"Hitler youth A hairstyle where the sides and back are shaved and the top is grown out, bangs usually go right above the eyebrows at least."

ETA: The actual history of the Hitler Youth goes back further than the 30's, http://www.holocaustresearchproject....tleryouth.html

**RedheadMistress** · November 17th, 2011, 01:35 PM

- Never really thought this haircut went away, I see it all the time and have done, especially in the swedish synth scene or industrial scene in London . . It's beautiful !

**sibyl** · November 17th, 2011, 03:14 PM

It's definitely not just a "Hitler youth" cut if you at it historically. It was popular for men in general in the 20s, 30s, and 40s.

I am pretty repulsed by anything associated with the Nazis but I think it is a very attractive haircut that shouldn't be getting a bad name. (:

**McFearless** · November 17th, 2011, 03:26 PM

This hairstyle existed before Hitler and I have no problem with people wearing it now. Somebody who refers to their haircut proudly as a hitler haircut, well, they can eff off. Thats sick. I can't imagine wants to associate myself with that monster.

And the swastika is quite different. Hitler flipped the symbol, so its not the same "wheel of life" symbol sacred to Buddhism. Its important to make the distinction.

**Athena's Owl** · November 17th, 2011, 05:54 PM

Somehow, it looks very 80s to me. I wouldn't associate this cut with Bergen-Belsen but more likely, with A Flock of Seagulls.

yes. This cut was really popular among the postpunks and clean-cut goths in the 80s. my boyfriend at the time had this cut in platinum blonde because he could wear it slicked and it was acceptable and then whip out the pompadour for the weekend.

when it comes to the association with the national socialist party of Germany, well. I always thought of that particular cut as a product of the Edwardian period some 30 years earlier. It was not exclusive - it's not even new. but those men going into the barbershop today asking for a Hitler Youth need slaps upside the backs of their pointy little heads, as my grandfather used to say. He even wore this haircut! I saw pictures of him with his 3c hair slicked back shiny in perfect tight waves, and the rest of it was high fade (he showed me the pictures when I came home with this haircut in the late 80s.)