The Subculture of Skinhead

A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class in the United Kingdom (1960s), and then spread among the world. Named for their close-cropped of shaven heads, the first skinhead were greatly influenced by West Indian rude boys and British, in terms of fashion, music and lifestyle. The skinhead subculture was primarily based on those elements, not politics or race. Since then, however, attitudes towards race and politics have become factors in which some skinhead align themselves. The political spectrum within the skinhead scene ranges from the far right to the far left, although many skinhead are apolitical.

Style and clothing

In additon to short hair, skinhead are identified by their specific clothing styles.Skinhead fasions have evelves somewhat since the formation of the subculture in the1960s,and certain clothing styles have been more prevalent in specific geographic locatins and time periods.Some skonheads do not fit into any of these categories, and many display characteristic of more than one category.The usefulness of these terms is to explain the dominant skinhead styles.There are no reliable statistics documenting how many skinheads have belonged to each category.They are often have shorter hairs and more tattoos than 1960s skinhead,and wear item such as higher boots and flight jackets that differ from those of their traditionalist counterparts.Some skinheads perticularly highly political ones,attach significance to the colour of boot laces to indicate belief or affiliations.In a few cases,the colour of braces (called suspenders) and (less commonly) flight jackets may also signify affiliations.The particular colours used have varied regionally and have meant totally different things in different areas and time periods.

Hair

Men: Originally, between a 2 and 3 grade clip-guard (short but not bald). Now some skinheads clip their hair with no guard, and some even shave it with a rozor.

Women: Many female skinheads has mad-style haircuts. A feathercut is short on the crown, with fringes at the front, back and sides. Some female skinheads have a shorter punk-style version of the hairstyle; almost entirely shaved, leaving only bangs and fringes at the front.

Shirts

Long-sleeve or short-sleeve button-up shirts or polo shirts by brand such as Lonsdale or Everlast or sweatshirts; collarless granded shirts; v-neck sweaters and sleeveless sweaters.