VLVL2 (1) Missed Communications: Beginnings

[Dave Monroe]

Rat 

As in "rat your hair". Another term for teased hair or
for teasing hair. The technique essentially bunched a
great gob of hair on top of the head. Then a smooth
outer layer was combed over it in order to create a
very large or tall hairdo.

http://www.ghs66.com/class66/slang.htm

ratted hair : the practive of backcombing hair until
it becomes a knotted, static mess.

http://ratswhiskers.tripod.com/bioratphrases.html

"The wearing of summery frocks in winter—a popular fad
with 1950’s beatniks—is a transformational style
statement that’s guaranteed to give cautious
conformists like yourself the appearance of reckless,
unhinged rule-breakers. So rat your hair, throw on a
sleeveless white ruffled-cotton sundress—and transform
yourself into a Puerto Rican good-girl-going-bad circa
1961."

http://www.observer.com/pages/story.asp?ID=6632

"I am going for a complete list of songs popular in
the 1980's so put on them parachute pants, tight roll
those sleeves, and rat your hair ...."

http://epoffice.astate.edu/brandie1.htm

Note, both 60s AND 80s ...


--- Michael Joseph <mjoseph at rci.rutgers.edu> wrote:
> 
> Elaine, Not to be peevish, but I wasn't thinking
> that "rat" was a literary invention. I certainly 
> recall the term and that unenlightened pre-Beatles
> era, which is conjured up by it....

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