Before millions copied his hair, three boys reportedly tried to cut it off by force. Elvis Presley was still a quiet student at Humes High School in Memphis. He wore long sideburns, a ducktail and bright clothes while most boys had short crew cuts. According to his friend Red West, that difference made Elvis an easy target for bullies.
One day, Red walked into the boys’ bathroom and found three students with Elvis and a pair of scissors. They planned to cut his hair. Red stepped in and stopped them. Years later, Elvis remembered what he had done. After Elvis made his first record, he invited Red to travel with him. Their friendship would last for years.
What Elvis Was Like at Humes High School
The same hair that made Elvis stand out at school soon became part of his fame. By 1956, young men across America were copying his swept back hair and long sideburns. Some schools even ordered students to remove their “Elvis Presley” haircuts. What once made one shy Memphis teenager look strange was suddenly becoming a national style.
The fight over his hair kept getting bigger. Fans wanted Elvis to keep it. Schools wanted boys to cut theirs. Even some famous stars told Elvis to lose the sideburns. Then in 1958, Elvis entered the United States Army. The teenager whose hair had once caused trouble in a school bathroom was now heading toward a barber chair with reporters watching.
Elvis Presley Gets His Famous Army Haircut in 1958
At Fort Chaffee in Arkansas, cameras surrounded Elvis as his military haircut became news around the world. He joked, “Hair today, gone tomorrow.” There is even a twist. Some research suggests Elvis had already removed his famous sideburns before Army induction, meaning the barber may have mainly shortened the rest of his hair.
Years earlier, three boys wanted to change Elvis because he looked different. Soon, millions wanted to look just like him. His sideburns later returned even longer during his 1970s stage years. The hairstyle that once made him a target became one of the most recognizable looks in music. Follow Elvis Presley on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.