A punk is a punk is a punk? Wrong. A naïve bystander might see two punks standing side by side. What he doesn't realize, however, is that one of those punks is into crust punk, while the other is obsessed with thrash metal. While these subcultures might seem confusing to a non-punk, it is possible to figure out which kind of punk is which.
Straight Edge
Straight edge is the drug-free portion of the population. This term, which originated in the punk culture and has now spilled over into the mainstream, demonstrates a commitment to abstaining from alcohol, tobacco and recreational drug use. Those who are straight edge often show off their commitment by marking the back of their hands with large black Xs.
Thrash Metal
Thrash has become a hybrid of sorts between punk and heavy metal. The four representative bands of this genre - Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica and Slayer - ushered in the scene in the early 1980s; the sound of thrash metal typically features more shouting of the lyrics than traditional metal singing.
Crust Punk
Crust is a very DIY punk subculture, in which patches are often sewn to clothing using dental floss. Floss is also used to sew together pieces of clothing, with an emphasis on tightly fitting garb. Most clothing is black and tight, adorned with those patches and studs or spikes. While the punk stereotype heavily features Mohawks, many crusts actually wear their hair in dreadlocks.
Skinhead
Skinheads earned an unsavory racist reputation in the late 1960s, when some members of the UK skinhead culture unleashed violence against Pakistanis, but the subculture features members with political beliefs on the full spectrum. Skinhead men tend to wear their hair very short - not entirely shaved - and fashion that harkens back to the movement's British beginnings. Skinheads will wear straight leg jeans, tight shirts, flight jackets and army boots.
Hardcore Punk
The hardcore scene features less emphasis on wild fashion than some of its contemporary scenes. While the stereotypically punk trademark of safety pins can be seen in the hardcore circuit, jeans, simple shirts and short hairstyles were the marks of the early hardcore scene.
 | Do you want to dress punk but you're not sure how? Check out these basic guidelines, but remember, punk is inherently original, so you'll have to tweak these ideas to reflect your style. |
 | Looking for classic punk hairstyles? Try these fun, quirky styles as you express yourself. |
 | Looking for edgy punk haircuts? Check out these radical hairstyles. |
 | Looking for punk hair ideas? This article will give both short-term ideas for those just checking out punk fashion as well as long-term ideas for those of you who know punk is who you are. |
Learn how to rebel with style when you wear one of these punk short hairstyles. |
