Men's Hairstyles: Trends, Products and Styling Tips

If you’re feeling like your style is in need of a makeover, a good starting point is your hair. We have compiled a handful of the best hairstyles for men wanting to upgrade their look and pay homage to the runway and celebrity-inspired trends, all available to you in New Zealand.

The Slicked Back Look

This was the style that dominated showbiz in 2013, and has carried on into 2014. This is basically a staple cut that has come and gone in various forms for decades (the recent resurrection thanks to Mad Men, of course). The great thing about this style is that is can be worn in the name of pure elegance, or even in a casual manner, all depending on how you wish to style it.

To achieve this look, you need straight, or slightly wavy hair. Next; decide how much volume you want in your slick. You can’t go wrong with medium or slightly long hair. Now you can cut it in two basic ways; the first being to leave all your hair at chosen length, for the original look, Just as legendary actor Leonardo DiCaprio has opted for in recent times.

Alternatively, you can trim down the sides, and make the crown of your head the focal point by gelling the hair slightly to the side in a semi-quiff or allowing the ends to subtly flick out. Justin Timberlake has confidently been sporting this ‘do' for quite some time, pairing it with preppy-chic gear that appears casual yet sophisticated.

To increase the longevity of this particular style, always reach for firm hold products, such as Keratin Complex Strong Hold Gel, which locks the hairs into place without looking overly greasy.

 

The Pompadour

The Pompadour is essentially a play on a classic haircut circa 1950s. Elvis was the contemporary who really brought this cut to the mainstream in a time when it was only ever witnessed on the likes of rock ‘n’ rollers.

To achieve this look, begin by keeping the crown length anywhere from medium, to relatively long. It can be worn at a plethora of lengths. The sides must be trimmed down in this cut, whether it be a fade, or something less subtle. Ensure that the front locks are kept longer than the hair on the rest of the head.

Once the cut is done, blow-dry the hair in the opposite direction of growth using a cold blast of air and then apply a strong-grip product like KMS California Hair Stay Molding Pomade which leaves hair natural and non-sticky. Allows the hair to be flexibly styled into the desired quiff.

Another essential product to get this style looking its best is a volumising shampoo and conditioner. This will ensure your hair is in great texture to style on. Bruno Mars has been an advocate for this haircut since his early days on the scene, and he does a damn good job sporting the classic.

 

The Messy Mop

This mod-cut has been a reasonably constant fixture in Britpop for decades - think Mick Jagger and The Beatles in their early days. It is definitely back for 2014, and looking quite dapper. Up and coming English musician; Jake Bugg, is a great example of a dude who pulls off this cut flawlessly. It may look like he actually hasn’t styled it at all, but that’s the whole point.

Hair needs to be grown out to a reasonably long length and cut so the fringe sits just about the eyes, while the side length rests roughly over the ears. The back should just rest about an inch from the hairline, any longer and you risk possessing an unflattering mullet.

Now, grab some Unite BOOSTA Thickening Crème, and work through the surface of hair, tousling with your fingers. This will keep it looking thick and piece-y without looking too scraggly. The key here is to use minimal product and rough it in, making sure you don’t go in too deep.

 

The Natural Curl

For those of you with curly or wavy hair, there is an extremely natural and charming hairstyle floating around this year, and we only need to look to James Franco for inspiration.

The naturally sitting curl is laid back and effortless yet elegant, requiring minimal effort to pull off. To get it as good as Franco, keep the sides nice and lean. This will help in keeping curly hair tame.

The trick here is not to trim the sides down too short like you would with the slick-back or the pompadour though. Keep the top at a medium length, with the fringe a tad longer than the rest. Curls have their own way of finding a place to sit, so you simply have to guide them where to go with the right products.

The aim is to keep your curls healthy by using a suitable conditioning product such as KMS California Curl Up Creme. When it comes time to whip the style together, apply some American Crew Men Firm Hold Styling Cream, and there you have it.