How to Be Punk

Punk can be traced back to the early sixties, before the movement even gained a name. The trend snowballed a decade later and just kept going. While you see less “punkers” on the street than you did a few decades ago, it’s a movement that did not die. Characterized by loud, hyperactive, anti-establishment music and loud, hyperactive, anti-establishment youth sporting messy used clothing and bright orange Mohawks, you, too, can join the phenomenon. A few tips will help you be punk, so rock on!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Punk music
• Used clothing
• Metal accessories
• Defiant attitude

1. Adopt the attitude. A punk attitude is one that includes a devil-may-care stance, rebellion and lots of sneering. You must also defy authority at every turn, even if you happen to agree with them.

2. Get the haircut. Punk styles are choppy, uneven, often shaved in places and include the infamous Mohawk. Experiment with gobs of gels, random braids, hardware items pinned in as head adornments and a different patterns shaved with a razor blade. Hair will look most punk in wholly unnatural colors, like neon green, bright pink or azure blue. If you don’t want to dip your entire head in a vat of dye, pick random sections to spruce up with color.

3. Dress the part. Punk fashion is messy, thrown together and full of holes. Plaid is a big, as is broken-in leather, ripped up T-shirts and manly tank tops. A prime outfit may include an old tank ripped at the straps and tied back together with wire or shoe laces, a plaid miniskirt and a leather vest that has scrape marks where its previous owner was dragged beneath a freight train. Shop at thrift stores or take oversize items from a relative’s closet. Punks don’t buy new.

4. Add accessories. Random tattoos, piercings with things like giant safety pins and lots of black rubber jangly bracelets help cement the look. You are also going to want to invest in plenty of fishnet stockings, a few pairs of combat boots and heavy chains to dangle everywhere from your back pocket to your nose piercing.

5. Dig the music. To be a true punk, it’s imperative you brush up on a number of bands that helped cracked the scene wide open. Begin your worship of the Sex Pistols. Add other punk bands to your music collection, including the Ramones, the Circle Jerks and Suicidal Tendencies.

Tips & Warnings

• Feel free to take these guidelines and run. One major factor of being punk is to be unique, so put your own personal spin on things.
• Parents may have mixed emotions about this new punk you.