Searches for hair bleaching increase by 285% after Foden reveals Gazza tribute

• Foden rekindles spirit of Euro 96 and legendary Gazza with bleached blonde skin fade
• Searches for hair bleaching soar 285% of the back of his latest trim
• Even Gazza has recreated his famous look ahead of Sunday’s opener
• Searches for mullets increased by 127% after Colin de Grandhomme’s appearance at Lord’s last week

England star Phil Foden’s peroxide blonde, Gazza-style haircut has caused quite a stir, with web searches relating to hair bleaching soaring a remarkable 285%. 

Although it wasn’t his initial aim, comparisons were quickly drawn between the 21-year-old and England great Paul Gascoigne at Euro 96, with online search volume for ‘bleached hair’ rocketing.

Research from tipping experts OLBG prior to the beginning of Euro 2020 has revealed that even 12 years since the retirement of David Beckham, England footballers are still influencing the hairstyles of the public with Foden carrying the mantle from the former England skipper.

His pre-Euros haircut appears to have earned him the tag of ‘the Stockport Gazza’ with fans hoping he shines just as brightly as Gazza did 25 years ago. Newspapers were quick to pick-up on the news of his trim with 23 articles published online (yesterday alone), 5,029 engagements, with 75% of those finding it humorous, while the other 25% had nothing but love for the PFA Young of the Year’s new look.

Gazza himself has joined Foden in creating his Euro 96 look, rolling back the years ahead of England’s Euro 2020 Group D opener against Croatia on Sunday.

The Instagram post of the completed work from HD Cutz, headed up by Sheldon Edwards, in London, which also maintain the barnets of Raheem Sterling, Jude Bellingham, Jadon Sancho and Usain Bolt, cruised beyond 77,719 likes and read: “BRINGING BACK THE EURO �������������� 96 vibe in HD ������������������ come on ENGLANDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.”

As well as resurrecting his famous haircut, the youngster will be hoping to replicate anything close to Gazza’s iconic goal against Scotland, when England square-off against the same opponents on June 18.

Speaking at an England press conference, Foden said: “I’ve had the same haircut for what seems like ages now, so I just thought I’d try something new and I woke up this morning with a lot of comparisons to Gazza and Eminem. It was my own thing, but people have turned it into something else.

“I remember watching highlights of Gazza on TV and everyone knows what he means to the country and what he did, so it wouldn’t be too bad a thing if I were to bring a bit of Gazza on the pitch.” 

New Zealand cricketer Colin de Grandhomme was another unsuspecting fashion icon last week, with his retro mullet attracting the attention of the public.

Although usually considered a hairstyle that belongs in the 1980s, de Grandhomme appears to be making the mullet popular again with searches by 127% since the start of the first Test between England and New Zealand last week.

Away from sport but staying with hair, Jedward raised money for charity earlier this year by shaving their heads and promptly sparked a 300% rise in searches for ‘shave hair’ in the UK in the following week, but unfortunately data was not available to look into the trends behind David Beckham’s many styles!