Travis Kelce and the Popular Fade Cut
The new Travis Kelce hairstyle is bringing out conversation about its ties to Black culture. The hairstyle has been worn by Black men long before Kelce did.
The “Fade Cut” has been popular amongst Black men since its creation, long before Kelce popularised it. The NFL star has helped the Kansas City Chiefs win another Super Bowl this past Sunday. He’s dating one of the most well-known singers out in the world, but he doesn’t have any claims creation on this hairstyle.
The hairdo has been around since the 1940s, according to Ebony magazine. The U.S. military’s strict grooming rules were the push that made this hairstyle possible. But the evolution of this beloved hairstyle didn’t stop there. During the 1980s, Black barbers had reshaped and added to the hairstyle. People could not get enough.
Whether it was worn high top or low, with fancy eyes catching swirls that sometimes spelled out the wearer’s names, or even with a side part that made you stop and stare. The fade has been a staple in the Black community for decades.
The look has not been new for a long time and has been popular for just as long, and Kelce knows this.
“Stop telling people I invented the fade. I didn’t,” Kelce expressed during episode 77 of his New Heights podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother Jason Kelce, who is a Philadelphia Eagles center. This response came weeks after a New York Times article credited Kelce for popularising the hairstyle.
The Times article explored how many (white) men are asking for this style because of Kelce’s rising popularity. But not once does this article mention the history of where this hairstyle came from.
This has also gotten Patrick “Patty Cuts” Regan some popularity. Regan credited Kelce with making what he calls the “Skin Fade,” which is something Black people have been calling one of the variations of the fade for years. Regan also told Fox News that Taylor Swift “loves” the haircut.
Travis Kelce's Barber Patrick Regan I Kid You Not Is Out Here Telling People Kelce Has Made The "Fade Haircut" Iconic Because Taylor Swift Likes It (IG Post) https://t.co/SGOSV4SvkI pic.twitter.com/4yPUl71fIp
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) February 2, 2024
One can’t help but think of all of the other times that Black culture has been appropriated for the sake of trends. From Kim Kardashian and the “boxer braids” to Bo Derek and Cornrows, the pilfering of Black culture needs to stop. There are ways to respectfully appreciate and take part in other people’s cultures but co-opting someone’s culture and not giving them the due credit is disrespectful.
