The Thing: Toronto’s latest grooming trend is a half-shorn head

Toronto’s latest grooming trend: a half-shorn head

The follicular fad of the moment is a study in contradictions. On the one hand, an asymmetrical cut sends a sort of unkempt, punk-rock “I don’t give a crap about my hair” message. On the other, it’s a carefully considered vanity statement that requires weekly maintenance to keep looking artfully irregular instead of lazy and lopsided. Coupe Bizzarre, the Queen-West-by-way-of-Montreal mop shop, has been hacking uneven locks for years, but over the past couple of months, the ’do has invaded the mainstream. It’s not only the under-30, south-of-Bloor set that’s bidding a bold adieu to balance; we’ve spotted everyone from Rosedale matrons to Riverdale preschool teachers and suburban soccer dads sporting the style. If aesthetic perfection is the goal, the half-buzz is a tough cut to crack (science dating back to the days of Plato holds symmetry as a universal sign of beauty). But this look isn’t about the laws of attraction; it’s about subverting expectations and signalling unadulterated attitude.