Formative Characteristics and Aesthetic Values of Genderless and Androgynous Hair Design in K-pop Boy Groups

This study investigates the formative characteristics and aesthetic values of genderless hair design in contemporary K-pop boy groups from 2020 to 2026. As traditional masculinity undergoes a significant paradigm shift, K-pop artists have emerged as pivotal influencers reinterpreting gender identity through sophisticated visual styling. This research specifically analyzes five representative groups—STRAY KIDS(SKZ), TOMORROW X TOGETHER(TXT), SEVENTEEN(SVT), ATEEZ(ATZ), and RIIZE(RZ)—utilizing a 4-step qualitative analysis verified by an expert panel (CVI=0.92). The analysis, structured around a matrix of Form, Texture, Color, and Ornamentation, reveals three major evolutionary shifts: First, in Form, conventional masculine straight lines have transitioned toward curvilinear silhouettes and long-layered styles, deconstructing structural gender boundaries. Second, in Texture and Color, the adoption of organic gloss and high-brightness mute tones has been prioritized to subvert traditional gender codes. Third, in Ornamentation, the active integration of pearls, ribbons, and tiaras signifies a reclamation of the historical ‘right to decorate’ for men. Aesthetically, these designs embody Butler’s gender performativity through androgynous integration and Huizinga’s Homo Ludens through playful, kitsch self-expression. Furthermore, they represent a deconstructive subversion of Flügel’s ‘Great Masculine Renunciation,’ challenging Western-centric binary oppositions. In conclusion, K-pop’s genderless hair design serves as a transformative aesthetic device that deconstructs binary gender norms and proposes a new humanistic, fluid paradigm for the global beauty industry and contemporary visual culture.