Citizens Must Choose From 28 State Approved Styles

North Korea Dictates Hairdos

Citizens Must Choose From 28 State-Approved Styles

No Oscars for NK Coiffures

The North Korean government has released a guide to the state-sanctioned haircuts and there are 28 to choose from: 18 for women and 10 for men. It looks a lot of this year's male Oscar winners wouldn't survive the Communist state of North.

Embark on a follicular journey into the regulated realm of North Korean hairstyles where the choice of a haircut extends beyond personal preference to a matter of national pride and conformity. In North Korea, there are 28 approved haircuts for citizens.

Men and women must choose one of these hairstyles and are not allowed to deviate from the prescribed styles. The guide includes detailed instructions on how to cut and style each haircut, and citizens are expected to follow the instructions closely.

The North Korean government's control over its citizens' appearance is not new. In 2005, the government banned women from wearing pants or skirts that were too short or too tight. The government has also banned men from having long hair or wearing earrings.

The government's control over its citizens' appearance is a way to maintain control over the population and to promote the government's ideology of self-reliance and conformity. By dictating what its citizens can and cannot wear, the government is able to control their self-expression and to create a sense of unity among the people.