Corn rows and pony tails

April 27, 2007 6:35 AM

Are corn rows on middle aged black men looked at the same way as ponytails are sometimes looked at on white men?

I'm not trying to offend anyone and I'm just curious.

I've been noticing quite a few middle aged black men with corn rows recently and it got me curious about whether or not this is seen as an age inappropriate hairstyle for middle aged black men the same way that some people think a ponytail on an older white man is an age inappropriate hairstyle.

posted by josher71 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (24 answers total)

Yes. If by that you mean it looks silly on them. (But then, I think corn rows look silly on anyone of any age or gender.)
posted by dobbs at 7:20 AM on April 27, 2007

Yes, most definitely -- they're almost more age inappropriate than ponytails.
posted by thisjax at 7:31 AM on April 27, 2007

Best answer: I teach in a school in a nearly 100% black community. I can tell you that a large portion of the dads who come into the school have corn rows (a far larger percentage, I would feel comfortable in saying, than white men who have pony tails). That said, most of these men are younger than what I would consider "middle aged," and I would say that the number of men sporting corn rows relates inversely with age. So while fewer middle aged black men wear corn rows than do younger black men, I would not say that it is as uncommon or looked upon within their community in the same way as pony tails on white men, which I do think carry quite a few stigmas. Outside of the black community, I don't know. I'm white and I don't think they look particularly sillier than any other high maintenance hairstyle, and I certainly wouldn't read too much into the personality of a man wearing corn rows. I do think corn rows have taken on a certain connotation in society as a whole (see sports coaches making their players cut them), but in my opinion that connotation is an entirely racist one. While most people wouldn't put a label on a white man with a pony tail, whatever they may think the pony tail says about him, I think a large number would be inclined to refer to a black man with corn rows as a "gang-banger" or a "thug."
posted by PhatLobley at 7:36 AM on April 27, 2007

There are a lot of celebrities/athletes of an older age with cornrows. Think Snoop.

So IMO, no, not analagous to middle-aged white guy with ponytail.
posted by poppo at 7:53 AM on April 27, 2007

Snoop can pull off a lot of things your typical middle aged man could not. I mean, he's Snoop D Oh Double G.
posted by chunking express at 8:05 AM on April 27, 2007

There are a lot of celebrities/athletes of an older age with cornrows. Think Snoop.

Older? Dude's 35. C'mon.
posted by solid-one-love at 8:17 AM on April 27, 2007 [1 favorite]

Isn't 35 middle aged?

Also, it's not about what Snoop can pull off. It's the fact that as a celebrity, he (and other famous folks) are usually trendsetters of sorts.
posted by poppo at 8:26 AM on April 27, 2007

While most people wouldn't put a label on a white man with a pony tail, whatever they may think the pony tail says about him, I think a large number would be inclined to refer to a black man with corn rows as a "gang-banger" or a "thug."

Hippie? Biker?
posted by fiercecupcake at 8:31 AM on April 27, 2007

Fair enough, fiercecupcake. I guess what I meant was that you wouldn't label him based only on the ponytail. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between hippies and bikers. Men with cornrows, though, are pretty much universally labelled, by those inclined to do so, as thugs. Think of Allen Iverson- whether he is in an NBA uniform, urban wear, or the mandated suit and tie, there are a lot of people who will say he looks like a thug.
posted by PhatLobley at 8:49 AM on April 27, 2007

Best answer: I think cornrows are fine at any age. It's basically a way for a guy with long hair to wear it without having to style it, literally every hour. My afros always require meticulous re-picking (with the black fist pick, natch) because they get lopsided if you touch your hair or scratch your scalp or something.

Corn rows stay in and look pretty nice for a good week or two, depending on how well done they are. And if it's hot, an afro isn't making things any better. Corn rows aren't tons better but at least your scalp gets to breathe a bit. Of course the extreme downside is traction alopecia.

When I see white guys with ponytails, I think of "the porno producer", especially if the guy is middle aged. I actually call them that.

I think some people take the corn row hating to extremes when the only reference they have is Snoop. I got told by a manager years ago that they would not have hired me into the department if I had been wearing corn rows. Which is just stupid to me, since it's not an unkempt style and had nothing to do with anything.
posted by cashman at 9:05 AM on April 27, 2007

I think some people take the corn row hating to extremes when the only reference they have is Snoop.

I hope you don't think I was corn row hating. I was saying Snoop is considered cool, therefore to have corn rows as Snoop does at Snoop's age is cool.
posted by poppo at 9:23 AM on April 27, 2007

35 is middle-aged? I'm middle-aged? Yikes.

I think corn rows look good on black men of any age, as long as they're long. I'm not crazy about the short ones.

Mr. Evangeline wears a ponytail, and he's 40. I don't think he looks like a hippie or a biker or a porno producer, especially since he's usually wearing Gap jeans and a J Crew shirt. I think most people take the whole package into account.

But he's got a full head of hair. On balding men, ponytails can look a little sad.
posted by Evangeline at 9:26 AM on April 27, 2007

35 is middle-aged?

Please do correct me if I'm wrong.
posted by poppo at 9:30 AM on April 27, 2007

Middle-aged starts at 40 at a minimum. Some might even say 45. And a white guy with a pony tail is a hippie or a biker, based solely on his hair. In either case, I wouldn't stand too close.

(Speaking zeitgeistally)
posted by DU at 9:33 AM on April 27, 2007

It's not. Cornrows can make an older man sexier, more dignified depending on how he carries himself and what type of cornrows they are. A black man in a bespoke suit looks debonair with cornrows. A black man in sweat suit, not so much.

A better comparison might be henna tattoos. If you've gone to a Desi wedding you've seen how intricate the tattoos on the bride's hands can be -- it's pure art. Chances are you've seen young, inexperienced women with henna tattoos on their hands -- art is not the first word that comes to mind.

I'm not sure I get the original question -- who's deciding if cornrows are a stigma? Employers? The same employers who frown on white boys in ponytails also frown on cornrows -- there's an image they want and that's not it (and it's not necessarily an age issue. It can be a "cutting edge" issue). The black community? As diverse as any other. You won't get one answer.

I always thought one of the reasons ponytails on guys are looked at with such distaste is because it seems lazy -- 5 minutes and you're set. Even the most casual set of cornrows take the better part of an hour if not more.
posted by whitneykitty at 9:34 AM on April 27, 2007

poppo, no, I was speaking of the people in my next sentence. The only person they knew of that wore corn rows was "snoopy dogg dogg" (or some similarly hilarious screwing up of his name). I didn't think you or anybody in here was hating.

Also, to clarify, I call the ponytails "porno producer ponytails".
posted by cashman at 9:54 AM on April 27, 2007

I can say with the utmost confidence that Mr. Evangeline is neither a biker nor a hippy. Bikers scare him and hippies irritate him. He might WANT to be a porno producer, but he's not that either.

I'm the one who made him start wearing a ponytail, because he has super curly, out-of-control hair. Until about two years ago, he wore it short, but he grew it for a role in a play and liked it so much he kept it. He feels he's finally found his true hair identity after years of conforming to other people's ideas of what's "proper". I was skeptical, but as long as he's happy, it's okay.
posted by Evangeline at 10:16 AM on April 27, 2007

I'm Mr. Evangeline, and you all have made me nervous.

I agree that it's a whole-package thing. If you give off an air of "this is just how I like to look," and if it fits with your general personality, then it will probably work. On he other hand, if it's an attempt to be cool or to put on a false personal, that will probably be obvious, and you'll look silly.
posted by grumblebee at 12:01 PM on April 27, 2007

I'm Mr. Evangeline, and you all have made me nervous.

She'll never find your stash dude. No worries.
posted by cashman at 12:42 PM on April 27, 2007

If only...
posted by Evangeline at 12:52 PM on April 27, 2007

She'll never find your stash dude. No worries.

Which stash? I've forgotten whether he's supposed to be a hippy, a biker, or a porn producer ...
posted by spaceman_spiff at 1:01 PM on April 27, 2007

Well I already know where the porn is.
posted by Evangeline at 1:03 PM on April 27, 2007

But I'm pretty sure he didn't produce it. It's not very high quality and I expect more from my man.
posted by Evangeline at 1:07 PM on April 27, 2007

We all saw his porn.
posted by saucysault at 8:52 AM on April 28, 2007