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Pyongyang Issues 28 Recommended Hairstyles
By wchung | 26 Jun, 2025
Perhaps hoping to head off the corrosive effects on social order of funky cuts and dos, the North Korean government has issued posters featuring 28 recommended hairstyles to be displayed at beauty salons and barbershops, according to the Hong Kong Phenix TV website ifeng.com.
The 28 depicted hairstyles are billed as “the most comfortable” styles. It’s hard to argue with that assessment since none are bulky or complex enough to cause discomfort.
The 10 hairstyles suggested for men are limited in length to 5-7 centimeters (2-2.7 inches), with shorter lengths apparently suggested for young men. Notably missing from the approved list are mohawks, quiffs, spikes, flattops, pompadours and the retro center-part with white sidewalls favored by leader Kim Jong-un.
The 18 dos recommended for women tend toward easy-care bobs and waves that fall no longer than the shoulders. Single women are directed toward the shorter, simpler cuts while matrons are allowed to add a few extra inches and body waves. Long or streaked hair, perms and crewcuts are apparently disfavored.
The recent effort at providing hairstyle guidance may have been foreshadowed by a flurry of style changes by Ri Chun-hee, the ultra-patriotic news anchor for the official Korean Central Television. In March 2011 she switched to a bang perm with hair tucked behind her ears. Less than two weeks later she returned to the traditional news-anchor style of side bangs with ears partially covered by short layered hair.
The changes set off speculation that the regime was tinkering with the image of its talking heads as a way to modify its national image. Some suggested the changes may merely reflect Kim Jong-un’s personal preferences. Of course, that would make it even more odd that his own personal style isn’t on the recommended style menu.
The preoccupation with the hair lengths of citizens isn’t unique to modern-day North Korea. Until the early 1990s the South Korean government enforced strict laws requiring short haircuts for men, presumably because long hair was thought to lead to western-style street demonstrations for democracy.
Pyongyang has issued menus of recommended hairstyles for men and women.
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