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What Russian people think of a shaved head (does it neccesarily mean skinhead?)
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Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

Lena and I were speaking about what a shaved head means in America (and some parts of Western Europe), and what a shaved head means in Russia.

Lena has the strong opinion that a person who shaves their head in Russia is considered either a Nazi, or that they would be associated with prison.

I mentioned to Lena that shaving one's head was an acceptable thing in the United States, and that it is not necessarily considered Neo-Nazism in the U.S.

Lena did concede that some people in Russia do shave their head if they are truly losing their hair, but she said that it still has a negative association in Russia.

Has anyone else received the same opinion from their Russian partners, or heard about the belief of Russians regarding this?

Khashyar

Posted by: bingism

M seems to like my very "very" short hair.... or rather I've never been told otherwise! Thanks for making me think

I certainly hope you're wrong on this occasion

Posted by: inlove

I have not been to Russia for quite long time to remember what the perception is. I like shaved heads, if the shape of the head is good.

Posted by: searcher

My head way shaved when I went to Russia...........

but then i'd hardly be mistaken for a skinhead

Posted by: lindochka

I don't think the shaved look is catching on in terms of fashion. Last summer, when my fiance accidentally got a much shorter haircut than what he'd asked the barber for, he spent the next several weeks praying for it to grow back quickly before I was scheduled to fly over in the fall. His mother really hated it and kept saying he looked like a jailbird! (I do prefer him with slightly longer hair, but I decided to keep mum and instead focus on how great it was to see him. Hair grows back.)

Searcher -- probably not!

Posted by: disculmawsu

My perception matches what other have said about shaved heads in Russia.
My perception was formed watching the the Russian TV series Sky and Land, where the bad guys all had shaved heads.

Posted by: Jill

It's funny--my husband and I were discussing this just the other night. It seems that shaved heads are becoming fairly popular. Keep in mind that neither of us has been to Russia in a while, but this is the impression we have been getting lately from TV and movies. A lot of very popular actors these days sport the shaved head look--that Gosha guy (forget his last name--he was in Anti-Killer, I think, among many other films), Sukhorukhov (from the Brat movies, etc), Roma from Dom 2, Fyodor Bondarchuk (host of Kreslo and director of 9 Rota). We thought of several others as well (who are slipping my mind at the moment). But they are all quite popular right now and considered attractive.

Posted by: jpierce55

This may just be due to the proximity of my states Arian Nation capital, but...

Even here in the U.S. many people have that same perception. It is very common where I live.

Posted by: Cheburashka

Just an FYI: This is Alexander Karelin, the great Russian wrestler of all time. He might be the greatest athlete ever in Russia. He was awarded the honor of "Hero of Russia" for not being defeated once in 15 years straight. I bet nobody has a problem with his lack of hair.

Posted by: Khashyar

Thanks, Everyone, for contributing to this discussion.

My sense is that each Russian person has their own association with shaved heads (very closely cropped hair).

Some people seem to understand that it is an individual's choice of style, and others interpret shaved heads through the more traditional stereotypes of Russian culture.

Khashyar

Posted by: zaniac

I have my hair buzzed right down. Absolutely hate it, but I've got to have it as my hair is thinning on top. When I first buzzed my hair I thought great, now I look like a neo-nazi etc. I've noticed people treat me much differently with buzzed hair, which makes it worse for me, as people look at me like I'm a criminal, so I think negative thoughts also happen in England also.

In Kiev I had my hair buzzed right down and I did wonder if people might have seen me as some sort of nazi. I did notice in Kiev that there were hardly any men over there with the buzzed look. At the time though there were many who were wearing hats as well. Brrrrrrr it was cold!

Posted by: B82

In the US, a shaved head means both.
You are either a skinhead or a person that doesn't like hair.
Unless you know that person, judgements shouldn't be made towards them.
I went to school with skinheads and they seemed to mind their own business but maybe that's just because we were in school. I have heard of a group of my friends chasing a racist down the hall after he/she called a black student 'ignorant".

Posted by: Hostile_hostage

Here in the U.K a person with a 'shaved head' isn't really going to stand out. There is a 'uniform' that a minority wear so that you can associate them with a group known as 'skinheads'.
Young guys when they first join the army have their hair cut short.
You see more of these men in and around towns/cities where there are Army Barracks near by.
A lot of guys shave their heads when they are losing their hair.
I use an electric hair cutter to do my hair and I keep it very short, not completely bald.

I'm going to the Ukraine shortly and would hate to be mistaken for a convict, gangster or troublemaker.

Perhaps my best bet is to buy one of thos Russian 'fur' hats as soon as i can after the plane lands lol.

Posted by: Jill

Quote:

Perhaps my best bet is to buy one of thos Russian 'fur' hats as soon as i can after the plane lands lol.

My in laws called last night and it's -30 (Celsius) in Kiev right now--so you're going to need that hat anyway!

Posted by: Hostile_hostage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jill

My in laws called last night and it's -30 (Celsius) in Kiev right now--so you're going to need that hat anyway!

Hi Jill

In that case, perhaps i should try and get one online lol.

Best wishes

Ian

Posted by: neil277

Hello.

I have never had a problem, it was 15-17 years ago when private business came to Russia " new Russians "- business men use to shave there heads and of course prisoners and after prison have shaved heads but now in Russia its quiet normal and many famous people have bald heads today.

Lots of famous people in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus have shaved heads, perhaps if you live in villiage it might be different to see a bald head and if you have bald head and going to Russia please buy bear hat and fur coat.

Regards.

Neil

Posted by: neil277

Hello.

Nataly and Myself in Russian Pub in Germany, who is the man with the bald head in the photo.

Regards.

Neil