However, since the late 1990s, a shorter style, typically with a distinctly elevated quiff has emerged amongst young men, fashioned in a style similar to James Dean. Traditionally, the surfer hairstyle has been one with little regard to personal grooming unkempt, wild, long and carefree and at one with nature. These are examples of the modern surfer bouffant hairstyle. On the contrary, the modern surfer image has been described as rather less primitive in appearance, with many surfers now having jobs, driving posh cars and spending more time on personal grooming. īy the late 1960s and early 1970s, the long haired surfer had become heavily stereotyped in the media (referred to as a 'beach bum' or 'surfer dude' ) as having a lack of discipline and self-indulgence and were described in an April 1971 issue of The Sun-Herald in Sydney as 'jobless junkies'. Blonder or red headed individuals tend to be more affected, given that their pheomelanin is more sensitive. The hair of surfers is often damaged and bleached, brought about by frequent exposure to sunlight, humidity and salty water. From the late 1960s to the 1980s in particular, especially at the time of the hippy, the surfer style was characterized by thick, long, bleached, often curly blond hair, bleached intensively by the sun and the saltwater. In 1965, Life magazine noted that the long surfer hair style and clothing (Levis) of surfers also transcended into skiing fashion. In 1963, Billboard described the emerging cultural 'uniform' of the surfer with bleached blond hair and white Levi jeans, cut off at the knee. As early as 1950, Life magazine referred to the 'beach bum' surfers of southern California.

Surfer haircut