Style Categories

Style categories
There are several different types of skinheads in terms of style. Some skinheads don't fit into any of these categories, and many display characteristics of more than one category. The usefulness of these terms is to explain the dominant skinhead styles. There are no reliable statistics documenting how many skinheads have belonged to each category.


Traditional
Also known as Trads or Trojan skinheads, traditional skinheads identify with the original 1960s skinhead subculture in terms of music, style, culture and working class pride (see Spirit of 69). Unlike the other categories of skinheads, many traditionalists do not regard attitudes toward politics or racism as central to the subculture.


Oi!
Oi! and punk-skinheads originated after the development of punk rock in the 1970s. They often have shorter hair and more tattoos than 1960s skinheads, and wear items such as higher boots, tighter jeans, T-shirts and flight jackets. Although the original Oi! bands advocated a pro-worker populist stance, the Oi! music fanbase includes a wide range of political beliefs, from far left to far right.


Hardcore
Hardcore skinheads originated in the United States hardcore punk scene (with bands such as Iron Cross, Agnostic Front, Cro-mags, Sheer Terror, Warzone and Murphy's Law). Originating in the late 1970s, they differ from traditional skinheads by their musical tastes and a style of dress that is less strict. Political views vary, and are not essential to this group.


Laces and braces
Some skinheads, particularly highly political ones, attach significance to the color of boot laces, braces, and (less commonly) flight jackets. Some use them to indicate beliefs or affiliations. The particular colors used have varied regionally, so only skinheads from the same area are likely to interpret them accurately. In many areas laces must be 'laddered' - arranged with the outside laces horizontal and parallel, resembling a ladder - to be considered of any significance. The "braces and laces game" has largely fallen into disuse, particularly among traditionalist skinheads, who are more likely to choose their colors for fashion purposes.


Tattoos
Tattoos have been popular among many skinheads since at least the 1970s revival. The following are examples of tattoo designs that have been popular among some skinheads. In 1980s Britain, some skinheads had tattoos on their faces or foreheads, although the practice has since fallen out of favour.


General
Crucified skinhead (designed by Mick Furbank for the Last Resort skinhead shop in Aldgate) or other skinhead images; bulldog; spider webs on outer elbows or other areas of the body, Sailor Jerry-style tattoos; sparrows; boots; music-related logos; national or regional flags; images related to A Clockwork Orange; laurel wreath; rose; crossed riveting hammers (similar to those in West Ham United logo); weapons (e.g. brass knuckles, bats, switchblades); slogans such as: Oi!, ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards), SKIN, Skinhead or Bootboy.


Anti-racist
Trojan helmet; anti-Nazi logo; skinhead smashing a racist symbol; crucified skinhead (two-tone black and white), images of black and white skinheads together (e.g.shaking hands); anti-racist slogans (e.g. Smash Fascism, AFA; SHARP; ANTIFA). (Note: redskins and anarchist skins may have political symbols such as red stars, red flags, hammer and sickles or anarchy symbols.)


White Power
Swastika or other World War II Nazi symbols (such as SS symbols); three 7s (Afrikaner Resistance Movement logo); flags (e.g. of the wearer's home country, of Nazi Germany or of the American Confederacy); crossed claw hammers or other Hammerskins symbols,; Ku Klux Klan symbols; white nationalist slogans such as: White Pride, White Power, WP, 88 (Heil Hitler), 1488 (Fourteen Words/Heil Hitler), HFFH (Hammerskins Forever, Forever Hammerskins), Blood & Honour (or B&H); Celtic cross or other Celtic symbols; Runes, Vikings or other Nordic symbols (which white power skins use to symbolize white culture.)