History Main / DelinquentHair

** It's revealed in a [[AllThereInThaManual side story]] that bleaching his hair was Tom's idea: Tom figured that looking the part of a delinquent would deter other kids from picking fights with Shizuo. Shizuo opposed the idea at first (rage disorder aside, Shizuo's [[BruiserWithASoftCenter about as far away from the delinquent persona as one could get]]), but eventually changes his mind when he realized just how much Tom cared about his well-being.

* Shizuo in ''{{Durarara}}'' dyed his hair blond to differentiate himself from his similar looking (but diametrically opposite in personality) brother, and kind of fits since he has an extreme HairTriggerTemper and works for loan sharks.

* In ''RedString'' Miharu has Bleached Blonde hair, Reika has a perm and her hair is dyed/lightened to a red-brown hue; several people associate them with delinquency - more so Miharu - even though never of them are. Both of them [[http://www.redstring.strawberrycomics.com/?p=765 got the restyle together]] in order to [[ImportantHaircut help Reika get over a bad experience]], later when Miharu is transferred to a more elite school she is required [[http://www.redstring.strawberrycomics.com/?p=700 to dye it back]].

* [[spoiler:Nitori]] from ''WanderingSon'' gets mistaken for this once he dyes his hair from a dark brown to a ''bright'' red. It's actually quite similar to another manga by the same mangaka, where a character with a design very much like Nitori dyed his hair green.

In some cultures, simply hair dyed unusual colors is considered a sign of delinquency - in the west this means colours such as blue, pink, green and similar shades that don't usually appear in nature. In other cultures where hair shades are more typically similar from person to person this can include hair tinted or lightened to red or blonde as well. There are certain hair styles which are strongly associated with delinquent or punk behaviour - mohawks, pompadours, certain spiky styles, and shaven headedness.

In Japanese and other Asian works this may have something to do with repression of excessive individualism in Asian schools - most well noted in Japan. Of course, this can lead to unfortunate misunderstandings with people who naturally have lighter hair colors.

In Western cultures, unusual hair colors are less strongly associated with delinquency that they were in the past, though they are still more commonly worn by teenagers and young adults than by middle aged or older people - with the exception of the "[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_rinse blue rinse]]". However the element about certain hairstyles remains, so you would probably would still be hesitant about bringing home a punk with a blue mohawk to your parents.

* In ''DetectiveConan'' is solved because of the differences between the styles of two writers. One was old-fashioned (lovers standing in the rain, separated by a pole was a common scene in his novels) and his delinquents almost always had bleached hair.

* Shizuou in ''{{Durarara}}'' dyed his hair blond to differentiate himself from his similar looking (but diametrically opposite in personality) brother, and kind of fits since he has an extreme HairTriggerTemper and works for loan sharks.
** Masomi, an easygoing class clown type [[spoiler: and former gang leader]] dyed his hair blond.

This trope usually does not show up in settings where YouGottaHaveBlueHair. A common attribute of TheQuincyPunk, subtrope of FaceOfAThug when it's natural

* In the Japanese film ''Akunin'', the troubled, violent Shimizu has bleached blond hair, and when Mitsuyo says that she "never expected [she] would be going for a drive with a blond guy like [him]", "blond guy" seems almost like a euphemism for "bad boy".

* The hackers who show up to Neo's door near the beginning of ''{{The Matrix}}'' all have strange hair colours. They're clearly delinquent-type characters.

* Kyo from ''FruitsBasket'' is a good example of this, in fact it's all over FruitsBasket. Kyo, Kisa and Hatsuharu are the most obvious examples, though. Hatsuharu got into trouble at school for white on top, black on bottom natural hair coloring.
* Kuwabara from YuYuHakusho.

** Miscelanious thugs in the series, such as those in the Blue Squares, often have dyed hair.
* Manga example: In LovePistols, The FaceOfAThug delinquent friend of Inukami has red hair and an outrgeous pompadour. No info whether it's dyed or not.
* Momo Adachi, the main character of ''PeachGirl'' is assumed to a slutty kogal as she tans easily and her hair bleached due to he being on the school swim team and thus around chlorinated water a lot. She wishes she looked more like her friend Sae, who is petite, pale, delicate (but a BitchInSheepsClothing).

* Kitamura gives it a go in {{Toradora}}.
* MidoriDays has a blond delinquent protagonist, though I can't remember if he bleaches it.
* In Detective Conan, a case I can't remember (sorry) is solved because of the differences between the styles of two writers. One was old-fashioned (lovers standing in the rain, seperated by a pole was a common scene in his novels) and his delinquents almost always had bleached hair.
* Also Kouichi from UsagiDrop dated a red haired delinquent girl dyed his hair red too during this rebellious phase. When he grew out of it his hair was black again.

* One of the revivifiable {{Mooks}} in TheSixthDay has her hair dyed a different color every time she is brought back. She even complains about having to get it dyed (and getting her ears pierced) when revived.

* Duncan from TotalDrama's Green Mohawk

[[folder:TruthInTelevision]]

* Shizuou in ''{{Durarara}}'' dyed his hair blond to differentiate himself from his similar looking (but diametrically opposite in personality) brother, and kind of fits since he has an extreme HairTriggerTemper and works for loan sharks. And Horoda and iirc other random thugs in the series have blond hair that is presumably dyed.

* ''FruitsBasket'': Kyo, Kisa and Hatsuharu

* Kyo from ''FruitsBasket'' is a good example of this, in fact it's all over FruitsBasket. Kyo, Kisa and Hatsuharu are the most obvious examples, though.

* At the beginning of ''TheTwelveKingdoms,'' Youko is criticized for her naturally red hair, and her mother tries to make her dye it a more unassuming shade so that people won't assume she's a delinquent.

* There's a gag to this effect in ''DragonballZ'' IIRC.

* Also Kouichi from UsagiDrop dated a red haired delinquent girl died his hair red too during this rebellious phase. When he grew out of it his hair was black again.

* According to [[http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=830&catid=23&subcatid=150 this article]] Japanese students with tinted or long hair have been known have had their hair ''shorn on the spot'' by teachers, and one middle school in the city of Kitakyushu once took aside the kids with tinted hair and had staff in a designated area spray it back to black. This was broadcast on a news programme.

* ''AngelDensetsu'' has genuine {{delinquent}} Takehisa, who dyed his hair blond.

In some cultures, simply hair dyed unusual colors is considered a sign of delinquency - in the west this means colours such as blue, pink, green and similar shades that don't usually appear in nature. In other cultures where hair shades are more typically similar from person to person this can include hair tinted or lightened to red or blonde as well. There are certain hair styles which are strongly associated with delinquent or punk behaviour - mohawks, pompadours, certain spiky styles.

In Western cultures, unusual hair colors are less strongly associated with delinquency that they were in the past, though they are still more commonly worn by teenagers and young adults than by middle aged or older people - with the exception of the "blue rinse". However the element about certain hairstyles remains, so you would probably would still be hesitant about bringing home a punk with a blue mohawk to your parents.

This trope usually does not show up in settings where YouGottaHaveBlueHair, obviously.

A common attribute of TheQuincyPunk, subtrope of FaceOfAThug when it's natural

In some cultures, simply hair dyed unusual colors is considered a sign of delinquency. This may have something to do with repression of excessive individualism in Japanese schools. Of course, this can lead to unfortunate misunderstandings with people who naturally have odd hair colors.

In Western cultures, unusual hair colors are less strongly associated with delinquency, but you would probably still be hesitant about bringing home a punk with a blue mohawk to your parents.

Hmm, I was thinking of expanding this trope to also include delinquent hairstyles in general, i.e. pompadours, mohawks.

A common attribute of TheQuincyPunk.

Subtrope of FaceOfAThug?

Not an example, but this trope was ArtImitatesRealLife in Japan, and likely some parts of Asia, until recently, although it's not a DeadHorseTrope yet.

[[/folder]]

* I think Kenpachi from {{Bleach}} should count. His hair is done up in ''spikes'' for goodness sake.
** Not sure if Kenpachi counts, unless we're going with the "drawing attention to yourself is bad in Japanese society, which is why they dye their hair in the first place". Kenpachi's hair is spiky so he can attach bells to it, which signal his presence to opponents, [[BloodKnight meaning they have a chance at surprising him and making the fight last longer]].

* The hackers who show up to Neo's door near the beginning of ''{{The Matrix}}'' all have strange hair colours. They're clearly delinquent-type characters.

* One of the revivifiable {{Mooks}} in TheSixthDay has her hair dyed a different color every time she is brought back. She even complains about having to get it dyed (and getting her ears pierced) when revived.
* According to [[http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=830&catid=23&subcatid=150 this article]] Japanese students with tinted or long hair have been known have had their hair ''shorn on the spot'' by teachers, and one middle school in the city of Kitakyushu once took aside the kids with tinted hair and had staff in a designated area spray it back to black. This was broadcast on a news programme.
* In the ''PieInTheSky'' episode "The Policeman's Daughter", the policeman's daughter of the title goes through a rebellious patch that includes running away from home, taking up with undesirable people, and dying her hair pink.

* Kyo from [[FruitsBasket]] is a good example of this, in fact it's all over FruitsBasket. Kyo, Kisa and Hatsuharu are the most obvious examples, though.

Subtrope of FaceOfAThug?

Manga example:
* In LovePistols, The FaceOfAThug delinquent friend of Inukami has red hair and an outrgeous pompadour. No info whether it's dyed or not.

Hmm, I was thinking of expanding this trope to also include delinquent hairstyles in general, i.e. pompadours, mohawks.

A common attribute of TheQuincyPunk.

Not an example, but this trope was ArtImitatesRealLife in Japan, and likely some parts of Asia, until recently, although it's not a DeadHorseTrope yet.

Can we get a consensus on the title? (I think I'll just stick to the trope being about hair colors for now, I think it's more common.)

I think you should include hair dos. Thinks like Mohawks are strongly associated with delinquency.

* I think Kenpachi from {{Bleach}} should count. His hair is done up in ''spikes'' for goodness sake.

** Not sure if Kenpachi counts, unless we're going with the "drawing attention to yourself is bad in Japanese society, which is why they dye their hair in the first place". Kenpachi's hair is spiky so he can attach bells to it, which signal his presence to opponents, [[BloodKnight meaning they have a chance at surprising him and making the fight last longer]].

* Duncan from TotalDrama's Green Mohawk