The Man Bun

Article posted by BR Natalie

I'm writing this article safe in the knowledge that The Husband has yet to read an article I've written.  

Ladies, I am in love with the man bun.  Team it with a beard and I'm about fit to keel over Victorian style.

And luckily for me, I'm not the only lady that seems to feel this way and so the Man Bun is taking over social media. Seriously, search #manbun on Instagram - it's the perfect way to kill 10 minutes waiting for the bus.  And the 30 minute ride home.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about here's a little taster of the man bun craze.

And if you prefer your media in the form of moving pictures, this video popped up in my newsfeed last week. (P.S. You're welcome.)

The camps are naturally firmly divided on the style - there are lovers and there are haters.  The hate camp consists of both men and women saying the bun is a woman's hairstyle. Or the latest hipster fad. And yet historically the bun has been worn by men of all statuses and class.  The Buddha had a top knot back in the 6th century.  Samson's strength was tied up in his hair (which we imagine would be put in a bun for fighting), 19th century Japan saw the men rocking buns, particularly nobles like Prince Okundaira.  George Harrison rocked the bun back in the 70s and David Beckham was bunning it back ten years ago.  

Lovers of the man bun see it for what it is - and that is quite simply lovely.  And by lovely, I mean, lurvely.

And while we're chatting about hair dos, I have to ask - in today's society where anything goes, is a hair style really a symbol of gender?  Why can't men braid?  Why can't they adorn their locks with a hairband?  Why can't they have beautiful long hair?  It was a sad day at BRHQ when Jared chopped the locks. My 2 1/2 year old hasn't had his first hair cut yet - partly because his hair is so curly I daren't cut it in case he looks like a baby Gene Wilder, but mostly because I see his hair as beautiful and perfect.  It's naturally ombred, pure white at the tips, to blonde and now darkening at the roots.  It's super soft and super fine, and brushing it is a snuggly and enjoyable evening and morning routine.  And yes - he rocks the baby bun at preschool.  And yes, strangers have called him 'she'.  And no, that doesn't make me want to cut his hair.  When he wants to change his do, he'll let me know.

So come on, 'fess up - does the man bun make you go weak at the knees?  Or are you a firm believer that buns are not for men?  Do you like a man that takes care of his long hair, or do you think men should stick to their short back and sides?  Are you guilty of searching #manbun?

Get chatting below!

Images: Distractify and Buzzfeed