Duck Tails: Not The Cartoon

Besides the clothing, hair is probably the most important part of any persons look. Some spend lots of money and time to get their dos just right, but surely no one has the same fervor, for their hair, that Rockabilly followers do.

Brill cream, pomade, pompadours, duck tail the terms may be foreign to most, so the easiest way to get a taste of the hairstyles associated with the Rockabilly culture is to have them defined.

Brylcreem:

This hair product is used to keep hair in place and shiny, but unlike gel, or hairspray it doesn't dry and harden. It is a mixture of mineral oil and beeswax.

Pomade:

Like brylcream this is another hair product for keeping the hair shiny and in place. The contents are similar, but pomade contains petroleum jelly as opposed to mineral oil. Pomades usually contain a fragrance as well.

Pompadour:

A style essentially created in the mid 1700's by Madame de Pompadour, this hairstyle has taken on a modern twist with the rise of Rockabilly. There are many different forms, but the essence of a pompadour is the hair on the top of the head, and in the front, being pushed up in a sort of 'bump' up look.

See John Travolta in the movie Grease. The style there is a sort of rip curl look, but the traditional pompadour is more of a slight crest moving backward. The style has evolved with the Psychobilly scene to what is called a quiff, seen here.
















Duck Tail:

The easiest way to explain a ducktail is to think about Stray Cats founder Brian Setzer. In his heyday he sported some of the biggest ducktails ever seen.



The ‘ducktail’ is a sort of cowlick coming out of the bottom of one’s hairdo that resembles a duck’s tail. However, in Setzer's case it almost resembles more of a mullet.

Mens hairdos aren’t something new, but these classic looks and styles are still standing strong today. All over the country you can find true and classic barbershops, who are certified separate from salons, and who are allowed to post the ‘barber’s pole’ outside their establishments.

What makes these shops different from a salon?

The main difference is their clientele. Salons serve mainly women and have newer techniques, while barbershops have mostly men who are looking for a haircut, shave, and some good ol’ conversation.

San Marcos is home to a barbershop which resides on the downtown ‘square.’

Lamar’s Barbershop has been in business since 1993, although the shop has been under other owners since 1912. Owned by Lamar La Caze, the shop contains quite a bit of John wayne memorabilia as well as other nostalgic surprises.

Rudy Soliz is a barber at the shop, and he says he hasn't seen much change throughout his history as a barber. He mostly does clip cuts as opposed to scissor cuts, but can do either at the customers request. "I can make more money this way...it's like mowing your lawn. You save time by using a lawn mower instead of using hedge clippers to cut it," says Rudy.

In the current economic status of the nation, Rudy has seen a bit of a decline, "some people who used to come in every other week, are now coming in about every five weeks." However, the majority of business is still steady, "there are still businessmen who come in steadily, as they need to look good for their business."

Whatever your style, hair is as various and open ended as Rockabilly.


All pictures courtesy of the owners' websites.