Tony Hawk is basically the face of skateboarding. When you think of him, you probably see the short, sensible haircut of a successful entrepreneur or the slightly weathered, helmet-clad look of a guy still hitting vert ramps in his 50s. But if you grew up in the 80s or spent enough time digging through old Thrasher magazines, you know the truth. There was a time when Tony Hawk long hair wasn't just a style choice; it was the definitive look of a young prodigy about to break the world.
It’s weird how hair defines an era.
For Tony, that shaggy, sun-bleached mane represented the Bones Brigade days. It was the "Birdman" in his literal fledgling state. Honestly, looking back at those photos from 1983 or 1984, he looks less like a corporate titan and more like a kid who just forgot to go to the barber for six months because he was too busy perfecting the 720.
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The Era of the Shag: Tony Hawk Long Hair and the Bones Brigade
In the mid-80s, skateboarding was transitioning from a niche hobby into a full-blown subculture. Tony was at the center of it. He was 14 when he turned pro. By 16, he was winning almost everything.
During this peak "Bones Brigade" era—the legendary team assembled by Stacy Peralta—Tony’s hair was a character of its own. It was that classic Southern California skater look: long, often tucked behind the ears, and wildly unkempt after a few hours of sweating on a ramp.
Why does this specific look resonate so much today?
Part of it is pure nostalgia. People miss the raw, DIY energy of early vert skating. When you see a grainy photo of Tony with that long hair, catching massive air at Del Mar or Upland, it feels authentic. It wasn't about the branding yet. There were no billion-dollar video game franchises in 1985. It was just a tall, skinny kid with a messy haircut changing the physics of what was possible on a wooden plank.
Breaking Down the Evolution
If we’re being real, Tony’s hair has gone through three distinct phases:
- The Grom Phase (Late 70s - Early 80s): Short, bowl-ish, very "kid next door."
- The Golden Age Long Hair (1983 - 1987): This is the peak. The feathered, messy, quintessential skater look. It’s the hair he had in The Search for Animal Chin.
- The Transition (Late 80s - 90s): He started cleaning it up. By the time he hit the 900 at the 1999 X Games, the long locks were a distant memory.
Why the Long Hair Matters to Skate History
It’s easy to dismiss hair as just "fashion," but in skating, style is everything. Your "steez" (style + ease) defines your legacy. Tony was often criticized early on for being too "robotic" or technical. He wasn't a "soul skater" like some of his peers.
But that long hair? It softened the image. It gave him that rebel-without-a-cause vibe that the 80s demanded.
When Tony appeared as a stunt double for Josh Brolin in the 1986 movie Thrashin', his hair was a part of the costume of cool. It fit the aesthetic of the punk-influenced skate scene. Even though Tony himself was famously focused and disciplined, the hair said "I'm part of this chaotic movement."
Interestingly, many young skaters today are circling back to this look. You see kids at local parks rocking the exact same shaggy, mid-length cut Tony sported four decades ago. It’s the 30-year nostalgia cycle in full effect.
What Most People Get Wrong About Tony's Style
Some people think he grew his hair long to fit in. Truthfully, it was probably just the byproduct of being a teenager in San Diego. If you spend eight hours a day at a skate park, the last thing you're thinking about is a trim.
Also, it's worth noting that Tony’s hair was never "metal" long. He didn't have the waist-length hair of a hair-metal guitarist. It was more of a "surfer-shag." It had volume. It had flow. It moved when he moved.
If you watch old footage of him doing a 540, the way the hair whips around actually adds to the sense of speed. It’s a visual cue for the rotation.
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Can You Still Pull Off the Tony Hawk Look?
Kinda. But it takes a certain level of confidence.
The modern version of this style is often called the "surfer shullet" or just a messy mid-length taper. To get the 1984 Tony Hawk vibe, you need:
- Length on the sides: It should cover the ears.
- Natural texture: Don't overthink the product. In the 80s, the "product" was just sweat and dust from the ramp.
- The "Flip": That slight outward flick at the bottom that comes from wearing a helmet for too long.
Beyond the Hair: The Birdman's Legacy
While we obsess over the Tony Hawk long hair era, it’s just one chapter in a massive story. Tony didn't just stay the kid with the messy hair. He grew up. He started Birdhouse. He became a philanthropist through The Skatepark Project.
But that image of him with the long hair remains the most "skater" version of Tony Hawk. It represents a time before he was a household name, when he was just the best in the world at something most people didn't understand yet.
If you’re looking to channel that energy, don't just grow your hair out. Go find a bowl. Fall down. Get back up. That’s what the long-haired Tony of 1985 would have done.
Practical Steps for Modern Skaters:
- Document your style: Take photos. You'll want to see your own "long hair" phase thirty years from now.
- Embrace the mess: Skating isn't supposed to look perfect. Neither is your hair.
- Study the tape: Watch Bones Brigade: An Autobiography. It’s the best way to see the hair in motion and understand why that era changed everything.
The hair might be shorter now, and it’s definitely grayer, but the impact of that 80s look is baked into the DNA of the sport forever.