What dire straights have we got ourselves into?

Fads and fashions will never go out of fashion. In my 18 years on this planet, I have seen hundreds of different fads

Fads and fashions will never go out of fashion. In my 18 years on this planet, I have seen hundreds of different fads. (Remember pogs, Pokemon cards and the Game Boy? What happened to them?) But one has taken me completely by surprise: hair straightening.

Yes, by consent, fellas are now having their hair straightened. Why? Because hair straighteners can take you far out of the realms of possibility offered by the standard wax, gel or mousse.

And it's not only the men on Parisien catwalks. No, I'm afraid it has become much bigger than that. I recently witnessed an argument between two self-respecting (I think) males over which hair straightener was for fellas and which, if you used it, made you a woman. By the way, apparently the smaller one is for fellas.

On the outside, these guys seem normal and natural (apart from their hair). They play sports, have friends and are smart enough. It makes me wonder if hair straightening is becoming more than a just whispered-about, underground fad. It is now openly discussed in public.

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Ireland has come a long way from the days when men were men and pansy was the name of a flower. Dances are now discos. The coveted butter voucher is now a distant memory, gobbled up by the all-consuming Tiger. JR from Dallas has become Ryan from The OC.

We live in a more open society, which is good to a certain extent, but the trend now is to buy big and be flashy.

If we allow this trend to continue, soon fellas will travel in packs to the jacks, apply make-up, compliment each other on the new top that "totally suits your figure" and boast about who has the new Take That CD first.

In the past I have succumbed to the pressure generated by new fads. Hopefully my mind will not be diluted by this latest up-and-coming craze. It makes you wonder who was the first lad to straighten his hair. Was it some rugby poseur? Was it some brave soul who is now reaping the rewards of his gamble that could have gone so horribly wrong? Or was it some unfortunate kid who was pinned down by his older sister while her friends straightened his curls and when he was freed, discovered he liked his new look? As did his mates, and the trend began. Whichever way it began, it's not for me.

Will Ireland replace Italy as the world's most camp country? Will fashion become the new mainstream passion? I don't mean to sound nihilistic but I'm a natural traditionalist and am by nature nostalgic. So if wearing sarongs (made infamous by David Beckham) just happens to become "in" or "big" next month, I might head for the hills. Watch this space.

Mark Corcoran (18) is a sixth-year student at Wesley College, Dublin

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