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The annual roundup of best, worst haircuts at Schoolies

Schoolies boys are letting loose with a peculiar move that doesn’t involve drinking or drugs. And the results are … unfortunate.

The mullet lauded as a ‘basic Australian right’

For many of the young blokes who swarmed the Gold Coast’s Glitter Strip for the first weekend of Schoolies, it’s a chance for them to exercise their new-found freedom the only way they know how: by getting really bad haircuts.

Indeed, it’s time for news.com.au’s annual roundup of the best and worst haircuts of Schoolies. This is a highly competitive and feverishly anticipated portfolio that many consider to be Australia’s equivalent of Time magazine’s Most Influential People Of The Year list.

“I bleached my hair 30 minutes ago,” Jonathan Moffitt from Toowoomba said after arriving in Surfer’s Paradise on Saturday.

His scalp was still burning when he spoke to news.com.au, but who cares? As the old saying goes: Blondes are too busy having fun to notice the pain that comes from their scalps peeling off.

Jonathan even decided to treat his mate Charlie Tomlinson to the at-home salon treatment.

“We’ve seen older boys do it every year so we thought we’d carry on tradition,” he said. “We’re really happy with it.”

The boys bought the box dye from “that ladies section at Woolworths” and the results really do speak for themselves. Someone get Clairol on the phone! We have some new It-boys for your advertising campaign!

Just a couple of platinum blonde babes. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Just a couple of platinum blonde babes. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Chic. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Chic. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Effortless beauty. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Effortless beauty. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Sophisticated. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Sophisticated. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir

Meanwhile, Cooper Beachy from Brisbane performed his own DIY cut upon arrival at his hotel and began offering the service to his mates.

“I’m just making everyone look fresh for some girls,” he said.

Yes, their haircuts look like they were snipped with an old pair of toenail clippers that were found in the bedside table drawer of whatever roadside motel they’re staying at. But it’s the style, duh! Just watch: this time next summer, Joh Bailey and Stefan will be using toenail clippers to trim the bobs of posh old ladies at all their salons.

Cooper shows off his pristine handiwork. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Cooper shows off his pristine handiwork. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Windswept. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Windswept. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Timeless. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Timeless. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
This mullet looks traditional compared to the other jagged looks. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir.
This mullet looks traditional compared to the other jagged looks. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir.
You could scrub greasy frying pans with these haircuts. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
You could scrub greasy frying pans with these haircuts. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir

Many of these young men say they’re breaking free of the restrictive dress codes placed on them during their 12 years of private schools. They’re not even excited about a week of drinking. What they really want is to feel the rush of cutting their fringes freakishly short.

“I go to Catholic school and their strict on the haircuts, so I wanted to let loose and express myself,” said Sam Nuss from Brisbane.

He paid $45 for the haircut that his mates have dubbed “The Gecko”.

The Gecko is geckoing. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
The Gecko is geckoing. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Understated luxury. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Understated luxury. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
‘It’s my signature. I cut it myself. Most people like it,’ says Ipswich grad Ashton Marsh. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
‘It’s my signature. I cut it myself. Most people like it,’ says Ipswich grad Ashton Marsh. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
The principal would have a conniption. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
The principal would have a conniption. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir

“I call mine a skullet,” said Sunshine Coast grad Lucas Ivanfy about his partly shaved sorta-mullet.

“Every month I go to the hairdresser and get it faded on the sides. That way it stays nice and crisp.”

Australia’s version of The Rachel. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir
Australia’s version of The Rachel. Picture: news.com.au/James Weir

The flame-haired beauty pays $45 for the premium service. Why not DIY?

“No way,” he said. “I feel like my skills aren’t up to those of my barber.”

It’s understandable. There’s no way this look could be achieved by an amateur.

It costs a lot to look this bad.

Twitter, Facebook: @hellojamesweir

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/the-annual-roundup-of-best-worst-haircuts-at-schoolies/news-story/92aa7d6595797eebf1b8f8ee5d6e810e