The Hairycopter

The Metro Times Detroit:

Detroit is the capital of many things — cars, Motown, garage rock … and hair entertainers. That’s right — not barbers, hairdressers or even hair care specialists. Hair entertainers.This genus of performers was spawned by the one, the only and the original Hair Wars, a Detroit-born collision of hair, fashion, dance, competition and a heaping dose of sass.

It started back in 1985 when David “Hump the Grinder” Humphries was DJing at a Detroit club, looking for a way to spice up his parties. Humphries saw something in the black hairstyles of the time: intricate, colorful and aggressive. He invited a few stylists to show off their skills at his club night, and the ball was set rolling. Two decades later, Hair Wars is a nationally recognized phenomenon.

A typical Hair Wars show is far from typical. Over the years, stylists have upped the ante in a friendly game of one-upmanship; each year their dos become more and more outrageous.

Past entries have included a giant beehive that unzips to reveal Champagne service for two and the hairycopter, a toy helicopter perched on a model’s head.

That’s right. A helicopter on a model’s head. You can see a picture here. Doing a hairycopter means restyling your hair.

In the worst case scenario, I was prepared to go for GI Cindy. That wasn’t necessary after all. There was only some restyling involved and a message: “You can do so much more with your hair”. Unfortunately, I’m so NOT talented. And a bit lazy. That doesn’t help either. 🙂

This trend can be found in Ghent on the Los Limones party’s and the Ghent Festivities (Gentse Feesten, Baudelo park).