Interviewer: How would you like your legacy written?
Bowie: I'd love people to believe that I really had great haircuts
Too tired to write anything extensive today, so in the spirit of one of my favourite Bowie quotes, here's my ranking of Bowie's "great" haircuts:
18. "Outside/Earthling/Artist" Bowie (mid-late 1990s)
Bright orange hair, goatee, and soul patch were a bold choice. A weird throwback to Ziggy with an "I'm-an-artist-and-idgaf-celebrating-50-years-old Bowie". Not his best look, but some great albums and fashion choices (that Alexander McQueen Union Jack jacket is to die for).
17. "Extras" Bowie (mid 2000s)
So little Bowie during this era (unfortunately), but the clean cut and natural hair colour is very nice and distinguished (if a little short). Perfect for the middle-aged, stay-at-home dad Bowie focused on, and enjoyed, being during this period.
16. "Mod" Bowie (early-mid 1960s)
Early!Bowie is always so adorable. His mod haircut may have been stylish once upon a time, but it's aged only so-so.
15. "Space Oddity" Bowie (late 1960s)
A bold move with this crazy perm, this hair was on the cover of "David Bowie" (1969), better known as "Space Oddity". I like the length, but the curls could relax a little (lot).
14. "Early Ziggy" Bowie (early 1970s)
Embryonic Ziggy, this haircut is missing the bright red colour that would become Iconic Bowie. As a result, the choppy layers feel like a part-way point between "Mod"/"Space Oddity"/"Hunky Dory" and Full Ziggy. Very 1970s, this haircut may have been okay for the era it was in, but it hasn't really stood the test of time.
13. "hours..." Bowie (late 1990s-early 2000s)
A great look, this late 90s-early 00s long hair feels like a throwback to the Hunky Dory era, but with all the goodness of a more confident Bowie. It's a young man's haircut imbued with all the effortlessly-cool-while-still-wearing-90s-fashion of and older Bowie.
12. "The Next Day/Blackstar" Bowie (2010s)
Bowie's last hairstyles embodied the stylings of "Station to Station" Bowie mixed with current fashion trends. This to me shows that to the end he was effortlessly in sync with "what was in" and was what timeless.
11. "Ziggy Stardust/Aladdin Sane/Halloween Jack" Bowie (early-mid 1970s)
Although the Iconic Ziggy Stardust haircut (which was really more Aladdin Sane/Diamond Dogs era) seems like it should make the Top 10, upon further reflection I think that it should rank at a respectable #11. This is mainly because, although iconic and instantly recognisable, it's not necessarily a haircut (or colour) you'd want to have all the time. Bowie certainly didn't, as he ditched the look after only two years. It does, however, go great with his outrageous "Ziggy" Era wardrobe and make-up that were all essential for bringing this alien character (or boy who spoke with aliens character) to life.
10. "Hunky Dory" Bowie (late 1960s-early 1970s)
Perhaps I'm biased since "Hunky Dory" is in my Top 3 favourite Bowie albums, but this long hair, natural colour, slightly wavy style just WORKS on Bowie. And he knows it, as he revisited this style in the late 1990s-early 2000s. It's cool, it's hip, and it's perfect for the spokesman for the "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Men with Long Hair".
9. "Heathen" Bowie (early 2000s)
"Heathen" Bowie reminds me a lot of "Early-90s" Bowie mixed with the slicked-back style of "Station to Station" Bowie. Yet another iteration of some great hair styles, it's easy to see why this one makes the Top 10. Clean, mature, and fresh - this style is perfect for the 55-year-old Bowie.
8. "Berlin" Bowie (late 1970s)
"Berlin" Bowie went back-to-basics with a mix of a clean-cut blonde style to the choppier shorter cut with his natural hair colour (reminiscent of "Early Ziggy" era). I must admit I like the blonde style he sported on his 1978 ISOLAR II better than the "Heroes" era, but both are excellent. It's a no-muss-no-fuss style that fit with his life and work at the time - solely focused on cleaning up and creating music.
7. "Sound+Vision/Black Tie White Noise" Bowie (early 1990s)
Early 90s Bowie was a great time for hairstyles. The clean cut reminds me of the cool, slicked back "Station to Station" era Bowie - but with his natural hair colour. The wardrobe of the "Sound+Vision" tour also feels like the spiritual successor to the ISOLAR I tour, with it's clean lines and monochrome colour scheme. This is also one of the happiest times for Bowie, (which I think you can tell in his work) as he worked through his musical mid-life crisis and married the intelligent and beautiful Iman.
6. "Tin Machine" Bowie (late 1980s-early 1990s)
Thank the Lord for "Tin Machine" Bowie. Whether or not you enjoy the music, you can't deny the fact that the normally clean-shaven artist really rocks the facial hair (when it's not the goatee/soul patch thing of the "Outside/Earthling" era). The trim figure, clean hairstyle, and slight scruff makes "Tin Machine" Bowie a clear winner.
5. "Plastic Soul" Bowie (mid 1970s)
Plastic Soul (Diamong Dogs/Young American) Bowie hair was definitely worthy of being in the Top 5 Bowie Hairstyles. Slightly longer, this haircut would later be partially revisited in the late 1980s (which was also the musical/styling counterpart to this era). What I love about it is the colour more than anything else - bold, bright, and oh so cool, this hair was also the perfect length to flip around on tour.
4. "Never Let Me Down/Glass Spider/Rockstar" Bowie (late 1980s)
God bless 1980s Bowie as both eras make my Top 5 haircuts (although admittedly, only certain portions of late 80s works). Perhaps it's because of my love of Labyrinth, or my love of "Never Let Me Down" that makes me biased towards this era, but even though this haircut may not stand the test of time, it was a fantastic look for Bowie.
3. "Reality" Bowie (early-mid 2000s)
Proof that he aged like a fine, fine wine, "Reality" era Bowie was during his mid-50s. The longer bangs, the dirty blonde colouring, even the sideburns - everything is amazing with this Bowie. This haircut and colour felt natural and right. I love the subtle shout-out to "Station to Station" Bowie with the styling. I think it really brought out his great eyes and amazing bone structure. Reality" era Bowie is a triumph.
2. "Modern Love" Bowie (early 1980s)
Early 80s Bowie was the height of his commercial success and as a result (I think) the perpetrator of the misconception that Bowie is a natural blonde (he has brown hair, people). But regardless of his true hair colour, I think early 1980s Bowie looked great as a blonde. Truly with this look, Bowie embodied the 80s spirit - where every day was a perfect hair day.
1. "Station to Station" Bowie (mid-late 1970s)
"The Man Who Fell to Earth" was the first movie (or any medium) I saw Bowie in where I thought: Wow. Who IS that? And where could I find one? I LOVE this hair. I want this hair for myself. The red-to-blonde dye offers a perfect contrast to the monochromatic wardrobe. The layers and length are perfect, and this haircut makes another appearance in the 21st century with "Heathen", "Reality", and "the Next Day" eras, proving that it stands the test of time. The Thin White Duke really is the coolest.
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