Becoming a hippie can be a refreshing and rewarding experience. However, now that times have changed, the ideas and looks of hippies have also changed dramatically. Many pair drug use with modern hippies and, for many in the culture, this is true.
Pursue the hippie lifestyle if you feel a natural inclination towards the ideology and aesthetic, but not for the drug culture surrounding it.
History of the Hippie Movement
Hippies were a youth movement that originated in the United States, starting in San Francisco, California, during the mid-1960s.
According to Urban Dictionary, they were known for their long hair, use of essential oils instead of deodorant, colorful clothes (DIY tie-dye t-shirts, headbands), and their love of life and freedom. Hippies are also known as flower children, free spirits, indigo children, and bohemians who accentuate the importance of love and happiness.
While listening to Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, hippies promoted freedom, peace, and love above everything.
The Modern Hippie Movement
The hippie movement is present even today. Their style has continued through all these years and people all around the world want to identify themselves as modern hippies. Are you one yourself?
There are a few signs that show that you may be a modern hippie because it’s much more than just smoking pot and singing about flower power.
Are You a Hippie?
Hippies usually believe in a higher power – a higher consciousness that helps us on the way to becoming the best version of ourselves. A sign that you are a hippie is that you love to read about the seven chakras; you love to know more about the pineal gland and the way karma works.
Crystals and gemstones are wonderful gifts of nature and you love to collect them and learn more about them. You deeply believe in their healing power and you always have one with you, even if it’s just a ring with a rose quartz crystal. It’s a no-brainer that hippies of the 60s were huge lovers of nature and they really made sure to never contribute to the pollution of rainforests and global warming.
Attune With Nature
If you also love to take long walks in nature and you always look out for new ways to help the environment, then you probably are a modern-day hippie. Your taste in music is a bit different for these times. You enjoy Bon Iver, but mostly you still listen to the good old rock bands like Led Zeppelin and Jefferson Airplane.
But you’re not limited to that, of course. You love to explore when it comes to music; it’s just that you always go back to the roots. Walking around and feeling the earth under your feet makes you feel wonderful and connected to anything and everything. Shoes are simply an option that you prefer to avoid whenever you can.
That’s why you dream of living somewhere far, far away from them in order to be truly happy. Maybe even a kick-ass treehouse? Whatever and wherever it may be, just let it be somewhere in the woods where no one can reach you. Because of how you look and how you behave, people have often called you a hippie.
People Think Tree Hugger When They See You
They’ve called you a hippie, a tree-hugger, or a flower child. When others start comparing you to hippies, know that you really do have that vibe. When someone calls you to go out on a date, you just think about lying underneath the stars and listening to their breath or taking a long walk through a forest.
You love to learn about the planets and about astronomy. The whole universe is very interesting to you and you find it to be the most exciting thing that there is. You love to watch the stars for hours and to find meaning in the phases of the moon. Wanderlust is in your blood! You love to explore the world and see every little corner of our planet.
You want to swim in the ocean in every part of the world. Money doesn’t mean much to you. Sometimes, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s just a way of getting through the day. If it was up to you, humans would pay with hugs and love. In your opinion, money is only used to turn us all against one another.
Modern Hippies Are Creatives and Romantics
Whether it’s writing, painting, or making music, you love to express your soul in one of these ways, and it means the world to you when people recognize your talent and actually compliment you on it. Maybe it’s even the only way you make money – by selling your artwork.
Sleeping under the stars, camping, and hiking are what you consider to be a vacation, and what you would like to do for the rest of your life if you could. Adventures simply light up your soul and make you challenge yourself in completely different ways than a normal, everyday life ever could.
Looking Like a Modern Hippie
If you are not as comfortable completely forgoing makeup, then simply embrace the au naturel look. Instead of the black eye-liner, put on a bit of mascara, then add peach color on your lips and a little blush! I know this is a bit of a weird idea nowadays, but if you want to truly embrace the hippie lifestyle, waiving shaving is the way to do it.
That’s a start, and maybe later you’d be more comfortable letting your leg hair shine as well. Give all of your heels and fancy sneakers a break, and try sandals! Birkenstocks were the sandals of choice back in the day, but you can change it up and wear Chacos and Tevas today.
For your head, you can choose a big, straw hat, or a flat-brimmed one for a more modern feel. Modern hippies no longer wear deodorants. They instead choose essential oils that are just as good as a replacement. The most popular scent is patchouli, but anyone is more than fine.
What to Do With Your Hair and What Hippies Wear
Don’t use a flat iron or wear it in top knots; hippies love their hair to be as natural as possible. Dreading your hair is also something that was promoted in the hippie lifestyle. Hippies also love their natural hair color, so you might not want to color it. If you want to look like a hippie, then dress like one.
Wear crop tops and macrame. And on your bottom half, you can wear long skirts and bell-bottom pants. If you want to know how to make your own hippie clothing, it’s easy to Google it and simply follow their simple steps. Hippies were not really into makeup. They preferred to go as natural as possible.
Compassion Abounds
Hippies are known for their compassion toward people, but also animals in particular. Some would even say that you care too much. You simply love all creatures because they are not able to defend themselves, and hippies have always thought that they should be a voice for the voiceless. That’s why one of the biggest signs that you are a hippie is actually your compassion toward animals.
You refuse to wear leather and wool simply because you don’t want the dead skin of an animal on you. Every time you and your family go out to buy groceries, you always reach for organic options and that’s what makes you so healthy. You might even operate an organic garden where you grow your own vegetables and fruits because you believe that it’s the healthiest way to live.
You know that the political situation isn’t great and you always discuss with your friends the politicians now in power and what they’re doing. You are very educated in conspiracy theories and you always talk about the things that you would do better if you were president. Whether it’s dancing, running, or practicing yoga, you simply love to move your body to the rhythm of the universe – you believe that it’s the best way to align your chakras and become one with nature.
