"To Gel Or Not To Gel"
(Yet Another Hair Guide For Men!)
We understand that the world of hair styles has just gotten trickier for men. There used to be just a few simple options. Little boys had bowl cuts and old men had shield-like newscaster hairstyles. And with the exception of the shag and the 'fro, not much else was available.
Well, now the men's world of hair has changed. Somewhere between my sophomore and junior year of high school, guys started..."experimenting". No, not that type of experimenting, but trying new styles and techniques to make themselves more appealing to the ladies. And oddly enough, five years have passed and the same styles are still relevent...so let's begin!
The Styles:
1. The Crop: Better known as old faithful, this one has passed from one generation to the next with a few variations. Basically, the hair is kept short in the back and sides, with the longest hair at the front...best for moussing/gelling the top for a spikey effect.
2. The Shag: Best for men in creative fields where different is "very now very wow". The hair length ranges from a prominent amount of hair at the nape of the neck to a little bit past the shoulders for the truly adventurous. We suggest layers. But beware, this is a high maintenance style so don't attempt it if you're a basic jeans and t-shirt kind of guy.
3. The New & Improved Bowl: This is the style highlighted by long bangs with the rest of the hair only slightly longer than the bangs. Hair shouldn't go past the neckline. This look is best for the urban professional working in a young or casual oriented office, with clothes to match.
Editor's Note:All of these main styles have infinite variations, but before you let your stylist do his magic, consider how a certain cut fits your personality/lifestyle. I have an amazing friend who crossed the crop with the mohawk. Before you gasp in shock, it's an amazing look and he has hair all over his head. But it's extremely high maintenance, and he works in the creative market, so it's not a problem for his audience.
The Moral:Just like with us ladies, think hard before you make drastic changes to your hair. The time and effort may not be worth it for you.
The Techniques:
1. Hair Gel: There are various types of hair gel but the best are the types that only take a little to do alot. In other words, regardless of whether you spike only the front or all of your head, don't get gel happy, "a 'lil dab will do ya". We like gel because of it's versatility and mobility. Nothis is set in stone.
2. Mousse: Good for the gentlemen with hair that needs taming. Mousse controls fly aways and frizzy hair without weighing it down. For this one, regardless of how long your hair is, a lemon sized amount is plenty. Too much of anything can be a bad thing and product build up can make even the prettiest hair look stringy and lifeless.
3. Wax: The word says it all. This is a styling tool for a professional. Most waxes don't give you the opportunity to "do over" if you mess up, so we don't suggest it unless you know what you're doing.
The Comb vs. Your Fingers: We believe that the comb is best for people who have styles that don't need products. A good close toothed comb is all you need to fix bed head or wayward strands. But if you've joined the "high maintenance" crowd, don't be shy, stick your fingers in there and get down to business. Combs can't always navigate hair with products in it the way that your fingers can. Plus, the point of using hair gel, mouse or wax is to create a toussled effect with your look. Combing equals neat while fingers equal messy and sassy.
So even though the possibilities are limtless, we've given you a few pointers to get you started. Just remember that the key to a perfect hairstyle is one that fits into your lifestyle and routine. It should compliment your personality and profession. So go out there and make that head of hair look truly fabulous!
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