Emmych asked: So I’m having a little trouble figuring out how to wear my hair — it’s super long and curly, but no matter what I do to it, it looks way too “straight”! What are some cute, femme looks for long hair that still look trendy and queer that could also start to drift towards the boyish and androgynous side?

I decided to consult with my friend JoJo, who has struggled over what to do with her curly femme hair since age 7. She says: Yay for long curly hair! I have long wavy hair and have encountered this very problem. My favorite solution: the faux hawk pompadour. It’s relatively easy to do, and you’ll look like a queer rock star.

Comb the sides up and back, then clip or bobby pin the whole pile of hair into a messy bun. (Use product on the sides if necessary. I know — curly hair doesn’t like combs, but you need to get the sides flat. Don’t rubber band the bun; you want to be able to rework it one piece at a time.)

Once you have the basic structure, you can either loosen some of the front into a “bump” look, or you can go even edgier and let the curls fall forward like a nouveau 1950s greaser. Use bobby pins or tiny clips to secure everything once it’s in place, and voila. Queer long hair, femmeish, androgynous, and trendy.

(source: arsdystopia.blogspot.com)

(source: thevagabondstudio.com)

(source: thefabweb.com)

(source: hairscapades.com)

And of course, no faux hawk pompadour photo collection would be complete without La Roux. Hers is a shorter version, but you get the idea:

(source: popdirt.com)

Thanks JoJo!

Related Posts: The Queer Pomp in 3 Steps With I Dream of Dapper, Queer With Long Hair

Anonymous asked: My style is pretty androgynous, however I am having a hard time finding a stylish haircut that suits me without totally chopping all my hair off and/or spending hours in front of a mirror styling it. (I am totally clueless about hair products and my hair doesn't hold style anyway) Anyway, any suggestions for a low maintenance hair style that isn't super short?

My hair stylist tMas says: Super short means different things to different people. If we’re talking “boy cut” short, then you can do a longer version of a pixie. A shorter version of a shag would probably work. I feel that since your hair doesnt really hold a style, the cut has to be impeccable. You should definitely should go to a mid-level salon and pay $50 - $70 for a great haircut. That is the foundation for everything. If they get texture cut into the hair, that will give it movement and style without your having to really style it. Then there is product. I recommend a paste because it has a softer hold that will separate hair and hold some sort of definition and style. Cutting things square instead of rounded will make a haircut more masculine because it puts angles, even without taking off a lot of length. 

Smooth layered pixie cut

Like tMas’ Facebook page: Hair by tMas

Related Posts: Question about Hair Products for Short Hair
Source: sheknows.com

I visited my girlfriend’s hair stylist Leroy Powell to talk about his experience with lesbian haircuts. He’s been working with a lot of queer women in their 20’s around the Boston area, and he’s learned a lot about the qualities of lesbian haircuts within that demographic.

A lot of the girls he’s been working with base their haircut around THE BIEBER, because it’s really about fun in the front and straight in the back.

He says that a lot of what differentiates between straight cuts and gay cuts are that straight girls like to have their hair extend past their hairline (see pictures below of some of his cuts). They often want hair to come over their ears, rather than cutting out the shape of the ear like he would do in a men’s cut. Lesbians tend to want a tighter look with their hair cut right at the hairline in the back.

Missy does a combination by wearing her hair over the ears but keeping it tight in back. Leroy explained that whether we recognize it consciously or not, the tight hair in back is one of the main signifyers we use for identifying gay women verses straight women with short hair. Young lesbos are also the most terrified of the mullet so they tend to police the back of their head as much as possible. Essentially, lesbian hair cuts are the same as men’s cuts in the back. 

Straight cut

Queer Cut (Oh hay who’s this cutie?) 

Lesbians tend to like asymmetry and find that it’s a nice way to separate themselves from the crowd. Straight girls who would prefer a bob over a pixie and tend to keep it safer. Lesbians are more likely to come in and say, “Do whatever you want. My head is your art piece,” while straightsicles are more likely to ask for hair that looks healthy and flowing. Many lesbians who prefer to keep their hair long can still express their queerness through an asymmetrical long-haired cut. 

As for knowing what a client wants, Leroy says that he picks up cues during the client consultation that gives him a pretty good idea of their sexual orientation. Sometimes they tell him via mentioning their lady lover, or he might even ask them straight up. “Are you a lesbian? Because this haircut will make you look like one.” He says you don’t necessarily need to know exactly what you’re looking for because you can tell him a few things and he’ll take it from there. 

If you live in the Boston area and want a lesboliscious cut, check out Leroy Powell at We Are Hair in JP.

Related posts: Valentines Day is For Bragging