The Man Bun: Love it or hate it?

The man bun has been slowly creeping into society over the past year, love it or hate it, there is no sign of it disappearing.

Now before we go any further, I would like to point out I am a massive fan of the man bun, as I write this I currently have my hair tied into one as best I can. The increasing popularity of the man bun, or ‘mun’ for short, has split opinion.

There are those that love it, to quote one Leicester student: “it is a really strong haircut, it almost makes a statement.” Unfortunately, for every person that likes it there appears to be a person that detests it. Another student told The Tab: “I can’t stand the sight of it, everyone that has one looks ridiculous!”

A ‘mun’ work in progress

It’s those people that really annoy me. They see the ‘mun’ as a crime to fashion and often compare it to the hairstyle of samurai warriors. I wouldn’t be ashamed to be compared to a samurai, they were hard as nails so it’s not really a valid insult.

Can you tell the difference?

Admittedly, there are those who don’t suit a man bun, Shia Labeouf for example. Trying too hard and leaving long hair greasy and uncared for are equally terrible crimes. These people are the minority though.

The likes of actor Jake Gyllenhaal and Oliver Proudlock, of Made in Chelsea fame, are living examples however that the man bun can indeed look good. They show the rest of the world that men can pull it off. I mean, even Thor has a man bun…why wouldn’t you want one?

Prudders showing off his mun

With a bit of love and care, a man bun can be a successful haircut. As you walk around campus, you’ll see a whole loads of ‘muns’. I have and I’ve not yet seen one done poorly. It gives you an edge, it makes you more distinct, with the quiff and a short back and sides becoming the norm over the past six or seven years, is it not time for something a little different?