Man Buns Go Mainstream

When it comes to making a fashion statement, nothing is off limits these days. From ripped denim, cool sneakers, jeggings, to man buns, the millennials find a way to make everything trendy. As the celebrities like Chris Brown, August Alsina, and Justin Bieber have always been the go-to people for fashion inspiration, they have definitely started a new hair trend, and one that has more meaning than the average Joe may realize.

Scott Block is a member of the “man bun club.” Dana Jenkins, the girlfriend of Scott, is a man bun lover. They gave insight to everything an outsider of the man bun club would want to know in an interview at the Golda Meir Library.

The term “Man Bun” has other names surprisingly. The “hippie/hipster look” as described by Dana, is also known as the Bro Bun, Hipster Bun, Mun, and Dude Bun.

The man bun is a hairstyle worn by males who sometimes shaves the sides and wear the rest up in a bun or small ponytail. After speaking with the Jenkins apparently the guys who wear man buns tend to come with certain styles and personalities.

“I am very big on music taste and sometimes for whatever reason guys with man buns have similar music taste to mine,” explained Jenkins. This music was a range of metal, alternative, folk and Indie. Jenkins expressed how she was naturally attracted to guys with long hair so the man bun is a style she likes in guys, and the music taste and style described as “one of the bros,” was evident in her previous man bun relationships as well.

For the guys, it’s less about the style and the appeal it has. “I have really long hair so it’s an easy hair style,” explain Block. He explained how his man bun has caused him to get a lot of comments and looks from the ladies, but for him it’s just an easy way to keep his hair out of his face.

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After asking the two if they knew any history about the man bun, they knew the basics. The style had a lot to do with Japanese Warriors and Asian culture overall. That is very well true, but it only scratches the surface of the symbolism of the man bun. According to an article on E News titled “A Telling History of the Topknot-From Samurai to Man Buns,” the Joseon Dynasty in Korea is where the style originated.

Married men put their hair in a Sangtu, which looks like a knot, at the top of their heads. The style also had history originated from India but was called the “Sihka,” which was meaningful at funerals representing devotion to god. The culture that most people tends to be aware of is its Asian origins, where it can be referred to as the Chonmage. As many may be aware of, sumu wrestlers wear the Sangtu style. As a celebratory ceremony, they cut off the knot which represents retirement. It was also worn by Asians with high social status like warriors.

For a style that originated in 1300 CE with the symbolism of power and glory, it has made its way to 2016 hotter than ever and is now for anybody who wants to rock the style. Here on University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus, it has been said that most of the males who wear the man buns work at the local Jimmy Johns on campus. Scott who coincidentally had on a Jimmy Johns T-shirt, was asked if he worked at Jimmy John. While he wasn’t currently employed there, he had indeed worked at Jimmy Johns before.

Are the guys who wear man buns lady magnets naturally?

“Now that it’s become super popular and trendy to have one, everybody thinks its super-hot and it’s all over the internet with memes, so I feel like women tend to be attracted to it more than they were before,” explained Jenkins.

The man bun rubs everybody a different way it appears, but we can never forget the history behind the new trendy style.