Superman’s latest look is making headlines — and not for his cape or powers. A recently leaked set photo from James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film shows actor David Corenswet as Clark Kent with a dramatic new haircut. The iconic side part is gone, replaced by a trendy Gen Z style: tapered sides with long, curly hair on top brushed forward — a look many online are calling the “broccoli cut.”
The internet quickly exploded with reactions. Fans were divided, with some praising the fresh style while others mocked it as “TikTok gym bro hair” or “alpaca teen haircut.” The meme storm began instantly, sparking debates about modern masculinity and fashion.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Gen Z fashion on a legacy pop culture figure,” said Matthew Ellis, a media studies professor in Portland. “When even Superman has the curly Zoomer perm, it feels like we’ve crossed a cultural threshold.”
Known by various nicknames — the Zoomer perm, bird’s nest, or simply “the broccoli” — this hairstyle has been dominant among teenage boys in recent years. TikTok stars like Noah Beck, Jack Doherty, and Bryce Hall helped popularize the look. While often mocked online, the style’s popularity shows no signs of slowing.
Los Angeles hairstylist Clayton Hawkins believes the cut’s appeal lies in its low maintenance. “With permed hair, you can just let it air dry and go,” he said. “The fact that Superman now has the TikTok F-boy cut is kind of iconic.”
Barbershops like Hairrari in New York have seen so much demand for the style that they’ve had to limit perm services due to the strong odor of the chemicals. “They’re popular, but they stink,” said one stylist. “It makes the whole shop smell like eggs.”
Perms on men aren’t new — they were a major trend in the 1980s and ’90s. But today’s version traces back to South Korea. K-pop stars from BTS and Exo helped usher in tousled, voluminous hairstyles that later found a home on TikTok.
One of the style’s earliest viral moments came in 2020, when 15-year-old Dillon Latham bet his followers he’d get a perm if a post got 500,000 likes. It reached 2 million. The perm video made him famous at school and online, eventually leading to his own haircare brand, Clean Cut Cosmetics. “Social media made hair matter more,” Latham said. “If you didn’t have the fluffy hair, you were missing out.”
For many Gen Zers, the style is about fitting in. “We want to follow the trends as soon as they hit,” said 17-year-old Jayden Williams from Toronto. “A lot of us are like sheep.”
Still, as the hairstyle became more common, its look started to evolve. Influencers now lean toward looser, softer curls rather than the tight, dense “broccoli” shape. “It’s not about super curly hair anymore,” said TikToker Kris Grippo, who has over 8 million followers. “Now it’s about waves that look natural. The meme kind of forced the change.”
Barbers like Jay Lorenzana in Toronto say they’ve seen a surge in requests for more subtle perms. “It’s a $50 cut and an $80 perm, so I’m not complaining,” he added.
Though the style may soon peak, experts say its widespread appeal lies in how it flatters most face shapes. “It works whether you have a round face, big forehead, or just want to hide insecurities,” Grippo said. “It just looks good on everyone.”
Whether you call it trendy or tired, Superman’s new hair has brought the Zoomer perm into the spotlight like never before — and it might be here to stay.
