Somethings never go out of fashion and remain constant. Those very things attract attention from people when they look at you. Some say that footwear is the first thing people look at, others say it’s the clothes that your eyes get fixed on. But no one denies that hair is at the top of that list. You can immediately take off a clashing jacket or a bad quality shoe, but you cannot change your hairstyle that easily.
There are certain things that have a specific purpose. Pants, for example, will always cover your legs – whether they are capris, baggy pants, shorts or jeans. Within these categories, however, there are certain styles that are considered classics. Similarly, there are classic hairstyles for men – that are named “classic” for that very reason. While there might be newer products coming to the market every month, to style and groom your hair, the hairstyles have remained the same.
While a lot of people may not know the actual name of a certain hairstyle, they know them as “The James Dean” or “The Johnny Depp” hairstyle, named after hairstyles of movie characters, show stars or celebrities. It really pays off to know the hairstyles that you cannot go wrong with, and which will not get outdated even after a few months of you getting that cut.
Why is this important?
While there is comparatively lesser societal pressure on men’s looks, it's scary to take a style risk. A majority of men prefer to take the easy way out – cutting the hair short (therefore they don’t have a questionable hairstyle with the added advantage of not needing to comb their hair that often). That being said, the appearance of men is definitely as important as that of women. The perfect fashionable hairstyle can make potential employers and partners sit up and attentively notice you. Even though it seems like a lot of work – with brushes, creams, oils, lotions and all – the results are worth it.
When you have the right hairstyle, you can feel your confidence soaring and you will feel great.
Which hairstyle do I choose?
A lot of men are faced with this question, especially those who prefer to cut their hair short rather than put in the work. The heart of the answer is that, if you love any look, you can definitely wear it. This works especially because the confidence will help you pull it off.
However, if you cannot decide between the different hairstyles, the best way to choose is to consider the shape of your face. There are certain hairstyles that are better suited for particular face shapes. For example, a buzz cut or a middle-part should be avoided by those who have a round face. The pompadour and quiff should be avoided by those with oval and rectangular faces – as it makes the head look bigger. These are not mandatory rules, of course. One can always go for the hairstyle that makes them feel good.
If you are second-guessing yourself or are unsure of which hairstyle to go for, you should consider asking a hair-stylist. If you do, leave it to the experts. They will be able to guide you with choosing the hairstyle best suited for you.
How much of a role does the texture of hair play?
There are different hairstyles because men have different hair textures. You can have thick and curly hair or thin and straight, and the hairstyle will depend on that. Thin wispy hair cannot be teased into a hi-top fade and unruly curls cannot be forced into a pompadour. So it makes sense to get a style that your hair will be perfect for. You can go to a stylist whose style and opinion you trust. They will be able to help you choose a hairstyle, and the products that you can use in order to pull off a style that your hair couldn’t pull off otherwise.
Here are a few classic hairstyles that will make you look polished and sophisticated. Take a look at all of them, and you can show it to your barber to get the exact same style.
1. The Side Part
This is a suave hairstyle that includes all the styles where you part your hair on the side. Usually, the side part features longer hair on the top than the side. It is simple and short at the back and sides. This was revived in the last decade as an easy-to-do alternative of the slick back hairstyle.
Hair products are used to slick it down, but you can add volume if you are confident about it. If you have thicker hair, however, you will require some product to keep the hair in place. A cream, paste or gel will aid you in controlling your hairstyle.
One of the reasons why this is a popular hairstyle is because hair naturally parts on the sides. Therefore, this hairstyle is easy to recreate at home. Moreover, it is a look that suits many hair types and face shapes. For those who have thin and long hair on top, this hairstyle should probably be a no-go.
When you go to your hairdresser, as for your back and sides to be tapered, make sure to have a hair top that is long enough to part, and sides that are short enough to be neat. At home, the best way you can go about this hairstyle is to comb your hair back and let it figure out where to part. Separate it along that part. Rub the hair product onto your hands, and distribute it on your hair. Use a setting spray if you have hair that is extremely unruly.
2. The Middle Part
The Middle Part is one of the iconic hairstyles that belongs to the list of classic hairstyles for men. This is something that works on almost all lengths of hair, and hair textures. However, the longer your hair is, the better this hairstyle will look on you.
Actors like Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Jonathan Taylor Thomas have rocked this look on the red carpet.
3. The Textured Cut with Fringe
For this hairstyle, the one thing you need to definitely have before you go for the cut is some length. Another thing is thick hair. Having a receding hairline or thin hair will cause this hairstyle to look extremely weird. It does work well for those with double crowns or licks, as it allows your hair to do its thing.
The best way of describing it to your hairdresser is to show it to him on your smartphone. It is best to take a picture of it to them so that you can easily put the idea across. A good barber will be able to let you know if the haircut will suit your face and hair texture.
Remember to hold back a little with the hair products. The hairstyle is to look carefree and breezy. The addition of too many products might make it look too groomed, defeating the purpose of the hairstyle.
4. The French Crop
Being a style that keeps coming and going out of style, the French crop suits many face shapes and hair types. It even suits those with thinner hair and receding hairlines. The length in the fringe and the forward direction of the hair will help cover any patches that you might have. The tapered back and sides, and the combed front make it a go-to style for those who do not want to put any work into their hairdo.
It is an easy, low maintenance style as one doesn’t need to use a lot of product on it. You can just let it fall to place. The maximum hair product used for a French crop is a little hairspray. It is perfect for someone who regularly goes to the pool and gym. The only upkeep needed, however, is ensuring that you get it trimmed every 3-4 weeks.
This style became famous with actors like George Clooney and Thomas Shelby donning it. The latter, however, sports the hairstyle with longer bangs.
5. The Buzz Cut
The buzz cut is the best example of a timeless hairstyle. To make it work though, you need a well-shaped head – as that gets highlighted by the haircut.
The classic fully clipper-ed buzz-cut suits square and symmetrical faces. But those having a less proportionate head can ask their barber to scissor over comb. This way, he/she can make the haircut work and suit the shape of your head.
This can be easily maintained, as long as you have an electric clipper. While you do not need to style it, you can use a little molding cream for some finish.
There have been a lot of actors who have donned this style, from Ryan Gosling to Robert DeNiro. You can also see this on every United States Military recruit. If your barber doesn’t know what a buzz cut is, it is mostly known as the Number Five (as the clippers leave 5/8th of an inch of hair on the scalp).
6. The Slick Back
In the 1920s, the Slick Back became a popular hairstyle as one needed a haircut that did not get messed up while wearing a hat. And it has become a timeless classic. It has been rocked by actors like John Hamm – in real life and in his character in Mad Men. This is generally donned by people in the corporate world.
This is one of the easiest hairstyles if you have straight hair. The more curls you have, the more effort it takes to force it to stay down. It suits many face structures – as it allows facial features like beards and moustaches to stand out. However, the slick back will not work for those who have a receding hairline. It will make the recession stand out – which is not something you’d want.
This look is not just brushing the hair to the back, away from your face. The back and sides need to be tight, tapering to the top, which should be heavier. The smoother the blending and graduation, the better the hairstyle. There can be a disconnection if you want an undercut, but the tapering is best if you have fine hair.
The styling of the hair is simple – blow dry it back. This will take longer if you have hair that grows forward naturally. Comb your hair back using a water-based pomade and you will be having a traditional slick back look. For a contemporary one, use a matte paste.
7. The Shoulder Length
The is a classic hairstyle that has never gone outdated. It can easily be adapted to suit the occasion and your wardrobe.
The toughest part of getting this hairstyle is sticking with it for long enough to get your desired length. Because there will always come a day when you might just decide that you cannot stand the wait and the work that goes in it – and go to the barber to chop off all the hair grown so far. It is always better to persevere until you get to the desired length and then figure out if you want to stick to this cut or not. You should discuss this with the barber, to ensure that the cut still makes you look smart and puts together all your work. You can ask the barber to give you layers in your shoulder-length haircut to give it some volume as well as have a textured look that is beach-ready.
The success of this hairstyle is dependent on the texture of your hair. If you have straight hair or unruly curls, this hairstyle might not work as easily as it might for hair with a subtle wave. However, the stylist can give tips on how to make it work. For example, a loose perm could help those with straight hair, while a texturiser can help people with curls pull off this cut. Hair products should be kept at a minimum – for the cut to look natural. In case you want it to look a little messy – you can add some salt spray.
8. The Pompadour
This was initially a feminine style – introduced by Madame du Pompadour in the 1750s. All the hair was pinned to the top of the head, creating height and drama. Over the years, there have been multiples variations and styles that have branched out from the original pompadour.
This hairstyle requires thickness so that it can be easily maintained once you get it. So it is better suited for those with thicker hair. It works for different face shapes as the hairstyle flatters almost all facial structures. For those with round faces, the silhouette can be slimmed down by slicking the hair at the sides. For those with a narrow face, the pompadour can be worn wider and softer.
This hairstyle takes a little bit of work - the front has to be grown out, slowly. You will require to go to the hairdresser often, to gradually get the top grown. The hair at the sides and back should be gradually altered to get that height.
It is best to experiment with the hair products to understand what works best with your hair. But it is better to add it to the back and sides. Then, you can work it to the top. Hairspray should be used to hold the pompadour in place.
9. The Quiff
This is a less refined version of the pompadour. It suits a range of ages and face shapes. However, like the pompadour, this doesn’t suit those with a receding hairline as the height and flow of the hairstyle will expose the forehead.
The classic quiff has a softer back and shorter sides. The contemporary quiff has longer hair on the top of the head, but the back and sides will be clipped. It is better to have a talk with your hairstylist before you decide on the style that will best suit you. Note, however, that the longer you want your hair to be, the longer it will take to style.
The styling hair product should be added to dried hair and distributed evenly using a comb. A strong hairspray should also be used to ensure that the hair stays in shape.
How do I make my hairstyle look fresh?
All these hairstyles are looks that work in all situations and eras. This might lead friends and colleagues to point out which actor/celebrity you resemble with or even hit you with “the 90s called, they want their hairstyle back” line.
You can make your own tweaks on these tried-and-tested classic hairstyles. Or, you could ask someone for their opinion if you don't want to go with your gut. If nothing else, you could always go to a good stylist and get their opinion on what would suit your face. They will be able to help you and add their own spin on the hairstyle.
Ultimately, though, trust your instincts. You will be the one wearing the hairstyle. So you need to be comfortable with it. So whatever you do, ensure that you like how it looks and feels. Moreover, only you know the amount of time you can spend on a daily basis maintaining your hairstyle.
Ask your stylist numerous questions about the following:
- Different hairstyles,
- What suits your face shape,
- Hair texture and so on.
It is okay to be out of your comfort zone, bombarding the hairdresser with these questions. Changing your hairstyle is a big step. It is normal to feel nervous and intimidated. But take the leap with caution and clarity, it will definitely be worth it.
Cool.