Photos showing example hair styles hang inside a hair salon in Pyongyang, North Korea on Feb. 20, 2013.
It looks a lot of this year’s male Oscar winners wouldn’t survive the Communist state of North Korea without a haircut.
The Telegraph reports that the world’s favorite hermit state is implementing state-sanctioned haircuts for men and women. Women are allowed to choose one of 14 styles; married women are instructed to keep their tresses short, while the single ladies are allowed let loose with longer, curlier locks. (We’re partial to no. 6 on the ladies’ list, which pays homage to the fabulous feathering that dominated so much of 1980s.)
(MORE: Muhammad Ali in Pyongyang: A Little Less Love than Rodman)
Men are prohibited from growing their hair longer than 5 cm — less than 2 inches — while older men can get away with up to 7 cm (3 inches).
Oddly enough, the list falls short of including its young leader Kim Jong Un’s current look — a variation on the high-and-tight that may be too much of a power ‘do for North Korea’s non-elite.
David Guttenfelder / AP
Photos showing example hair styles hang inside a barber shop in Pyongyang, North Korea on Feb. 20, 2013.
(MORE: 5 Things We Hope Dennis Rodman Learned About North Korea)
But hair conformity is nothing new in North Korea. The Daily Mail reports that in 2005 state TV aired a five part series on haircut guidelines for today’s modern socialist lifestyle, and it seems the concept is reemerging under North Korea’s new leader. There are a couple theories as to why this mandate is in place, including that Kim is not a fan of previous styles. Perhaps he just wants to avoid having to grow a pompadour like his father’s.
MORE: Kim Jong Un: Chinese News Site Falls for The Onion’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ Parody