Man Buns-Explained

From: Vox

Macklemore is just one of many high and tight wearers.

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So why did normal people start growing man buns?

Is there a unified theory of man bun?

Let's look at the previous trendy haircut. That haircut is called the "high and tight," or, less-sensitively, the "Hitler Youth" (so-called because of its similarity to the popular 1930s German haircut). Still in vogue in many places, it involves growing the top long and shaving or closely clipping the sides, as shown by Macklemore (one of many celebrities who wears the style):

Man buns, especially undercut man buns, are an easy extension of that look. Grow out your hair a little more, and you suddenly have enough to make a top knot. Truly popular men's haircuts often appear on a timeline — a new trend succeeds when it's easily adaptable from an old one. After all, the "high and tight" followed a Mad Men inspired trend of slicked back hair and close-cut sides.

Joakim Noah hasn't always worn a man bun,
 but he's considered an early popularizer of the trend.

Just as helpfully, the cut also works on different types of hair: biracial NBA player Joakim Noah was one of the first big stars to wear it, and many black men have modified the man bun for their hair type using braids or dreadlocks in the bun (with variation on the sides that's similar to all other man bun wearers).

Curly-headed man buns are common too, though they can require slightly longer hair. The accessibility of man buns means that anyone with the current cool haircut can wear them surprisingly quickly.