A fairly gender-neutral hairstyle in which the hair is worn straight(
ened)and reasonably short with a long bang/fringe, often swept dramatically to one side. The hair on the back of the head is sometimes cut shorter for a more aggressively stylish look, and in this case is often
mussed or spiked with product. The hair may be dyed or natural; if dyed, the preferred color is usually black or red or both.
This style is most popular within the generation born in the late 80's; it is associated with 'emo' music and its cult following. This hairstyle is ideal for people of said cult following, since the long bang(s) have the following uses:
-they obscure the eyes, thus making the facial expressions less readable and so lending an air of glamorous mystery to the wearer
-this facial obstruction provides a sense of privacy to those less-social members of
the emo movement
-they provide the wearer with an excuse to execute the "
emo hair toss," which not only serves the practical function of clearing the hair from the eyes (if only for a tragically brief moment), but also, the motion itself is a way of expressing one's emo attitude
Emo hair is best worn with a tight
black shirt, a
victim mentality, and a warped genius. If you are already college-age and have emo hair, you had better be in a band. Otherwise,
ditch it: you look immature and overly self-involved.
Emo music and its hair began as a method of self-expression (of deep and
gut-wrenching despair and frustration, often) and self-differentiation from the masses. Unfortunately it has become little more than a fad followed by the shallow and the easily influenced.
Emo Boy1:
My existence is agony. I think I'm going to go wash my hair and then post pictures on MySpace.
Emo Boy2: Shut the fuck up, poser. You only turned emo when it
went mainstream. You don't know what agony is.
Emo Girl: OMG their emo hair is so hot! If I can't date someone with emo hair, I'll cut myself!
Emo Girl2: *emo hair toss*