It is surely a welcome sign of progress in modern life with the conscious decision on the part of many people to embrace the advantages of natural processes and organic produce in particular in their daily lives. This new outlook has been adopted by both men and women alike and is symbolic of a new healthy outlook in determining the quality of their daily lives. However, in the case of many men, this new zeal seems to be more characteristic of their heart than their head. Simply stated there would still appear to be a ‘grey’ area affecting the perceived perspective on their fearsome follicles which encourages men in later years to ‘dye’ rather than submit to any trace of greyness in their manly manes. I’m told that there may in fact be a whole television series devoted to this problem called Greys’ Anatomy but as I have not yet seen the programme, I’m sure you’ll forgive me if some of my comments should overlap with those set out in that programme.
The vanity of the male appearance was long regarded as a virtual ‘no go’ area for many years with a dash of ‘Brut’ or a splash of ‘Old Spice’ being deemed sufficient for any male to overwhelm the sensory organs of even the most recalcitrant of female acquaintances. Now however, thanks to the power of the advertising media and the prominent emergence of the waxed and waned, bare chested whippets of the younger generation, the older male has had no option but to replace the old ‘no go’ philosophy with a new ‘wash & go’ one in order to safeguard his role as the leader of the pack. Thus a whole new industry has emerged to rub, shrub and tub the poor male so that he may be ‘fit for purpose’ and not an olfactory and visual embarrassment to the opposite sex. While I am quite willing to acknowledge the scope for and even the real need to improve the general sensory perception of many males, I would question it’s wholesale application to the ‘head’ of the species. Indeed I have formed a small committed band of head hunters who wish to save the traditional identity of the elder male and whose motto is ‘Dandruff may be tough but a basic shampoo may be enough’.
However, the greatest betrayal by the US media in particular of the elderly male is seen in the near hysteria portrayed in the female ‘slender model’ perspective occasioned by the sight of gray hair on the male scalp. Thus most pop stars and film actors in their mid sixties onwards are portrayed as having not only ample but free flowing locks of ‘natural’ hair with not a gray hair in sight. Furthermore, young people who show any signs of thinning hair are immediately encouraged to shave their heads so that any sign of ‘awful’ baldness can be immediately eradicated by removing all hair! Poor old Yul Brynner and Telly Savalas must be turning in their graves! ‘Who loves ya Baby’ would no longer suffice for a bald Kojak. Yet in Italy, as indeed thankfully in some parts of Ireland, many men valiantly fight against such media hype and proudly proclaim their manliness with ever greying locks. Indeed ‘Your mani’ (Irish slang) Armani is rightly famous for his elegant gray hair and black attire.
Perhaps it is indeed time to concede that the infamous ‘comb-over’ has had it day. It was indeed the only hair cut where in a light breeze, one could simultaneously wave hello and appear to proclaim the advantages of electric shock treatment, with a small movement of the head. However, I would assert that the present pressure to put an end to grey hair in males of advancing age is not a ‘cut and dry’ case and the pernicious attempt to replace grey hair by ‘natural’ looking hair is distinctly ‘off colour’ in its approach. Thus, for my fellow old grey lions, the sight of a few grey hairs will continue to be cherished despite the media hype and for us at least their will always be a welcome for a grey day dawning!
Warning Note: This blog entry is for light ‘comic’ relief only although it may be considered as a ‘cut above the rest’ when compared to similar hair products. However, it is not necessarily ‘Just for Men’ in its potential appeal.
P.S: This blog is best appreciated while listening to any music by David Gray.
The vanity of the male appearance was long regarded as a virtual ‘no go’ area for many years with a dash of ‘Brut’ or a splash of ‘Old Spice’ being deemed sufficient for any male to overwhelm the sensory organs of even the most recalcitrant of female acquaintances. Now however, thanks to the power of the advertising media and the prominent emergence of the waxed and waned, bare chested whippets of the younger generation, the older male has had no option but to replace the old ‘no go’ philosophy with a new ‘wash & go’ one in order to safeguard his role as the leader of the pack. Thus a whole new industry has emerged to rub, shrub and tub the poor male so that he may be ‘fit for purpose’ and not an olfactory and visual embarrassment to the opposite sex. While I am quite willing to acknowledge the scope for and even the real need to improve the general sensory perception of many males, I would question it’s wholesale application to the ‘head’ of the species. Indeed I have formed a small committed band of head hunters who wish to save the traditional identity of the elder male and whose motto is ‘Dandruff may be tough but a basic shampoo may be enough’.
However, the greatest betrayal by the US media in particular of the elderly male is seen in the near hysteria portrayed in the female ‘slender model’ perspective occasioned by the sight of gray hair on the male scalp. Thus most pop stars and film actors in their mid sixties onwards are portrayed as having not only ample but free flowing locks of ‘natural’ hair with not a gray hair in sight. Furthermore, young people who show any signs of thinning hair are immediately encouraged to shave their heads so that any sign of ‘awful’ baldness can be immediately eradicated by removing all hair! Poor old Yul Brynner and Telly Savalas must be turning in their graves! ‘Who loves ya Baby’ would no longer suffice for a bald Kojak. Yet in Italy, as indeed thankfully in some parts of Ireland, many men valiantly fight against such media hype and proudly proclaim their manliness with ever greying locks. Indeed ‘Your mani’ (Irish slang) Armani is rightly famous for his elegant gray hair and black attire.
Perhaps it is indeed time to concede that the infamous ‘comb-over’ has had it day. It was indeed the only hair cut where in a light breeze, one could simultaneously wave hello and appear to proclaim the advantages of electric shock treatment, with a small movement of the head. However, I would assert that the present pressure to put an end to grey hair in males of advancing age is not a ‘cut and dry’ case and the pernicious attempt to replace grey hair by ‘natural’ looking hair is distinctly ‘off colour’ in its approach. Thus, for my fellow old grey lions, the sight of a few grey hairs will continue to be cherished despite the media hype and for us at least their will always be a welcome for a grey day dawning!
Warning Note: This blog entry is for light ‘comic’ relief only although it may be considered as a ‘cut above the rest’ when compared to similar hair products. However, it is not necessarily ‘Just for Men’ in its potential appeal.
P.S: This blog is best appreciated while listening to any music by David Gray.
No comments:
Post a Comment