How Zayn Malik became the poster boy for hairstyle inspiration across South Asia

If Harry Styles was the heart of One Direction, Zayn Malik was its soul. The boy band revolutionised the music industry in ways no one could have imagined. Each of its members went on to stand out on the world stage but there was just something about Zayn Malik that couldn't be shaken off. Since his arrival under the spotlight at the tender of 17, the lad of England-born, Pakistani descent has been vocal about his cultural identity and ethnicity, especially being uniquely so among the other band members; creating an instant connection with South Asians who adopted him as one of their own. Besides music, the singer-slash-songwriter has gone on to have an unlikely and unprecedented effect on South Asian hairstyles. Practically a poster boy for men's hairstyles across South Asia, Malik's headshots are plastered over the walls of barbershops in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, alike. Sharing space with the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Siddharth Malhotra and other Bollywood actors, it's a strange place that Zayn would find himself in but says much about his popularity across the countries.

We weren't the only ones who noticed. Malik's face on Indian barbershop walls have been a topic of discussion on reddit, created meme-worthy material on Instagram and has been a running gag on Twitter. When his ex-girlfriend, Gigi Hadid, and his ex-bandmate, Louis Tomlinson, visited India on separate occasions, many wondered whether they noticed his face in locals salons as they drove through the busy streets. It could have been anyone; especially with the many Hollywood actors who are beloved across India for their haircuts and personal style. So why Zayn? We find out. 

Many haircuts have been popularised by Bollywood stars over the years. Think of Salman Khan from 2003's Tere Naam with long layers, parted across the middle, which went on to become a cultural phenomenon in India. Aamir Khan's Ghajini hairstyle in (YEAR) encouraged more men working in corporate offices to get the buzzcut than most army recruits. From Shahid Kapoor in  (YEAR) Haider to Hritik Roshan in (YEAR) Krish; the list is endless. So then why do local Indian hairdressers feature Zayn Malik as the cover star for their reference look books? His fame in the West, massive global popularity and Pakistani ethnicity are some of those reasons. 

Malik carries both, South Asian heritage and Western modernity as part of his persona, which has translated to his hair. His hairstyles have transitioned from youthful spikes as a teen to glossy locks in his twenties to flowing, coloured tresses as he has grown into adulthood, representing a fusion of culture, identity and contemporary trends. He has experimented with styles, colours, and length; which South Asian men often refrain from. These different hairstyles have resonated with clientele of all ages; leading to the makings of a poster boy for salon look books. From waxed spikes to platinum-tipped lengths, the universality of his hairstyles has turned Malik into the mood board for hairstyles across India and the countries that surround it. Students, teachers, doctors, chefs; the former One Direction star has hairstyle inspiration for everyone.

If Zayn's hair on its own wasn't good enough, his striking looks and edgy tattoos make his haircuts all the more arresting. You couldn't ask for a more charismatic choice to pick your next hairstyle from. After all, there are no demographics that can resist the charm of a Malik hairstyle. 

Edited by Dayle Pereira