How to Look Like a Greaser

Co-authored by Kalee Hewlett

Last Updated: December 12, 2024 Approved

According to Wikipedia, "Greasers are a working-class youth subculture that originated in the 1950s in the USA." ^{[1]
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Research source} This guide teaches you how to look like a greaser, made popular in the '50s, or from the movie "Grease" and the book or movie "The Outsiders." The character Fonzie in the 1970s TV show Happy Days illustrates the greaser looks. The big aura of attitude you put out is style and toughness.

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You have to decide from the jump if you want to be a cool cat, ladies man who gets all the hottest dames, or if you want to be a hard person and don't take crap from anybody. Whatever the case, stand up for yourself and for those who cannot defend themselves.
Do not have, for example, a white undershirt with a black tee and white cuffs. It will show you are just starting out and other greasers will call you a poser. Get Levi's 501s, rustler jeans or any straight-legged, slim (not skinny), or boot-cut jeans, and cuff either 1–4 inches (2.5–10.2 cm) or degrees for cold weather. ^{[2]
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Research source} If you have a school uniform that's not strict, you could wear Levi’s tan jeans, and shirt (even with sweater vest) you could roll the sleeves up, or wear a jacket, crop your pants, and wear chucks or, if you have to, dress shoes or motorcycle boots. For girls get skinny blue jeans and roll them up or wear leather pants. Buy Dickie's work shirts, fitted t-shirts of any colour (roll-up sleeves, but this is not a requirement), western shirts, bowling shirts, slim fit suits with a bola or plain tees of any colour. Get a Dickies or Levi’s work jacket, denim, windbreaker, or a leather jacket (any colour), and for work out or exercise, you could wear khaki shorts, a tee-shirt, and Chuck Taylor's or timberland boots. Timberlands are also good for everyday wear with loose or tight jeans and a classic white tee. In the winter wear leather bomber jackets.

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A pair of heavy boots like Harley Davidson or Doc Martin's will do. If you want to be a real slick cat, either for everyday use or for special occasions, get some creepers such as T.U.K.S. or wingtips.
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Research source} The main styles are pompadours , afro-dours, part/afro-arts, conk, Jheri curls, the quiff, elephant's trunk, DA, or slicked back. For girls, you can get greasy curls pin-ups anything you want that shows you’re a greaser. Snooki's hairstyle from jersey shore would work too. You can make your own combinations, again as long as it shows that you are a greaser. If you don't want long hair you can get a short crew cut, or for black people, a shirt version if a hightop fade, those hairstyles were also popular in the 1950s, and keep in mind the term "greaser" didn't actually exist in the '50s. Another option is to get a stingy brim fedora or a paperboy hat. Make sure it's a real fedora made of feeling with a shiny band around it tied into a bow or a leather cap.
Watch movies about greasers, for example, "The Outsiders," and "Rebel Without a Cause", "The Wanderers", "American Graffiti", and for girls the movie pretty in pink. ^{[4]
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Research source} Greasers generally see the movie “Grease” unfavourably as it creates an over-dramatic stereotype.
Ray Campi and his Rockabilly Rebels, The Four Aces, Rockats, Imelda May, The Stray Cats, Buddy Holly and the Crickets, The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, JD McPherson, charlie feathers, Carl Perkins, Chuck berry, little Richard, Richie Valens, Bo Diddley, the coasters, Bill Haley, Fats Domino, Johnny Cash, Jackie Wilson, Duane eddy, Ray Charles, are good examples. ^{[5]
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Research source}
Stick to the old school "Sailor Jerry" style tats. Other common Greaser or Rockabilly themed tattoos include Pinup Girls and Hearts w/ banners. Tattoos always will portray a "tough" image. Tattoos on your arms are commonplace, as well as on the chest or back.
A Hot Rod, '50s or 60's muscle cars or motorcycles are common. ^{[6]
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Research source} Make sure you know a lot about cars, go to Autorama with your friends.
Walk there with a strut, or just take your muscle car.

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How can I make an outfit to look like a greaser?

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Leather jackets, varsity jackets, Dickies jackets, plain t-shirts or vintage shirts would work. Also, like the article said cuff your jeans one to four inches.

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Did female greasers wear makeup?

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Yes, they did!

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What if I'm chubby?

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That's okay! There are no rules about size or weight when it comes to being a greaser.

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Tips

Your hair is everything when you're a greaser, take good care of it!

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Don't try to use a fake 50's accent that's a stereotypical thing you would see on movies like grease but most real greasers didn't talk with a lot of slang they mostly said things likewise ass instead of smart-aleck. And don't try to change your personality that's what posers do, be yourself, But do not speak fully proper speak with a little urban twist if you need too.

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Get muscles, you'll need them if you want to show off to other greasers, to show that you don't need help.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Don't use Murray's or Dax pomade—it's hard to get out of your hair. The best way to get the slick hair look is to use water soluble pomade, like Shiner Gold and Layrite.
Don't get a tattoo until you know you want to be a greaser for life. Use lots of hair grease. Greasers fight with fists, so don't carry any weapons.
Watch movies like "The Outsiders" and "Cry Baby" to better understand the culture.
Listen to Elvis Presley and other rock and roll artists.

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Warnings

If you know you can't fight, and you still try to be tough, don't go talking crap to people and starting stuff. Bad reputations follow you everywhere.

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If you are worried about how you look, either ask other greasers how you look and what you can work on, or look up pictures of greasers on the net. If you think you look odd then you probably are, so before you go out calling yourself being greased up, check to make sure you got it right.

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Before you get tattoos, make sure you want to be a Greaser forever. Tattoos are on you for the rest of your life, and removal isn't fun or cheap, either! Make sure you are 18 or older before getting ink.

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Don't do anything stupid, like carrying weapons. Greasers are known to brawl, not fight with weapons.

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Things You'll Need

Pomade or hair grease such as Murray's, DAX, Black and White, Royal Crown.
Greaser clothes flannel shirts, leather jackets preferably black t-shirts
A Comb thin parted hair comb
Cool car or Motorcycle 1964 Chevy Impala, or a 1955 ford Thunderbird
(BMX bike or moped if you’re under 18) nice looking bikes would be a 1960s beach cruiser

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