Men's Fashion 205: Hair and Hairstyles
Men's Fashion 205: Hair and Hairstyles
Maximizing personal aesthetics for the head and face
Hair can be tricky to figure out compared to other aspects of style. General fashion is surprisingly straightforward (simple well-fitting clothes in the right colors) because good fashion has timeless elements despite the customization levels. Get your foundations in order and the rest can fall into place on its own.
Hairstyles vary more often than clothing, and culture plays a big part. There’s also face shape, skin color, hair color, body fat percentage, and age to consider.
Cheat sheet: find your celebrity doppelganger or an Instagram model. Copy their wardrobe and hairstyles or otherwise take inspiration from them. These people usually have professional stylists and are on top of trends. It's their job to be presentable and play a part. This tactic doesn’t always work, but a shortcut is a shortcut.
Alternatively, Cuda has an idea to streamline the process:
Try out a few places to see what you prefer. If you happen upon a haircut you really like, TAKE PICTURES so you can show the barber/stylist what you want.
First, let’s dive into the details behind facial hair.
Beards and Mustaches
Certain cultures may endorse or ban them depending on one’s status within a community. Subcultures also have their own standards on what’s expected. There’s a subjective element here as with all style decisions.
In Western culture, beards are either in vogue or not. Old movies often had clean-shaven stars like Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, and Kirk Douglas. The rise of Hipster Culture in contemporary society brought a beard boom along with movements like No-Shave-November (Movember). However, the “inauthenticity” of hipsters and soyboys is creating backlash.
Clean-shaven seems to be “in” again. We’re in a potential transition period right now, so it’s hard to tell one way or the other. TBD.
Regardless, having a beard is a personal choice. Do you want one or not?
If you’re not a fan: shave regularly and keep that clean look. Don’t go beyond stubble or a tight beard.
If you like beards: probably best to go full Viking Warlord or Ancient Wizard. YMMV. Just keep the beard well-groomed. Combs, beard oils, whatever you need.
The key here is to be presentable enough that your status is enhanced by the facial hair. No prepubescent neckbeards or scruffy homeless looks. You need to OWN your beard and be confident with it.
Now, for specific styles, here are a few options:
Sideburns are technically a beard style since they go into the face region. Mutton chops are the extreme version of that.
Some ideas are more acceptable than others.
Common sense goes a long way here. You’ll know in your heart when some ideas aren’t worth pursuing for everyday life.
The Chad Guide To Shaving
Just read BowTiedCrow’s write-up on BowTiedFawn’s Substack. Easy.
Hairstyles (And Lack Thereof)
The hair on your head isn’t as influenced by cultural norms as facial hair. It’s more at the whims of what’s popular. Unfortunately, “popular” ideas often flaunt objective aesthetic standards. You can’t rely on trends. (I don’t know where the “Zoomer Hair” came from, but don’t do that. )
Let’s kick this off with baldness.
Even though many men (and even women) can start balding, and it’s a natural part of life, nobody likes bald spots. The visual break creates a weird asymmetry.
If you’re balding, first try to save your hair. Loss can indicate health issues or stress. Get your bloodwork done and see a doctor. Fixing a diet or lifestyle can reduce or reverse hair less. There are all sorts of “hacks” to try and regrow hair, including red light therapy. Everyone’s situation is different—do what you can and see what happens. Guys with more information include AJAC and Ed Latimore.
In either case, get treatment or shave your head. Don’t stay in the patchy awkward in-between zone or go for outdated toupees. The bald style works, especially if you’re jacked.
Now, if you have a luxurious head of hair, then pick some favorite hairstyles and get a haircut often. Monthly or bimonthly at minimum. I cut my own hair, and fire up the razor every 2-3 weeks because I’ve figured out what’s good for me. Everyone’s hair grows at different rates. Know yours.
Your barber should know all the vocabulary. This includes:
More examples:
Note that even similar cuts vary in important ways. You’ll see combinations, like a faux hawk with low fade or quiff with high fade.
Some people like hair gels and creams, and certain styles won’t work without them. I don’t (so no product recommendations there) yet it’s essential for certain styles. I use natural shampoos, get regular haircuts, and that’s good enough.
Again, everyone’s hair is different. Experiment and see what you like.
Avoiding Bad Ingredients In Personal Care
I recommend checking BowTiedAngel’s Substack. She has suggestions on shampoos, soaps, and other products.
There’s the DIY option of using apple cider vinegar and baking soda too.
Check the ingredients list for your products. One of the big things everyone says to avoid is SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate).
BowTiedFawn notes that “There is evidence that sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and ammonium lauryl sulfate can cause irritation, but the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel has concluded on two separate occasions that neither cause consistent issues.”
In either case, I lean toward using simple products with as few ingredients as possible. Many modern chemicals are unnecessary in soaps and shampoos. Check everything once, find brands that keep you looking good, then keep using them.
The short-term analysis is worth the long-term benefits.
Conclusion
Your hair matters. Take care of it along with the rest of your body. Being dialed in enhances your ability to take advantage of The Halo Effect. The ROI is incalculable. Especially when it takes such little effort to actually look good.
Be exceptional. The bar is low for men these days, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
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This concludes, for now, my introductory series on men’s fashion.
Read the full series:
The Foundations: Men’s Fashion 101
Dress Codes and Style: Men’s Fashion 102
How To Choose Your Wardrobe Colors: Men’s Fashion 103
Introduction to Fit: Men’s Fashion 104
Introduction to Shoes: Men’s Fashion 201
Introduction to Watches: Men’s Fashion 202
Introduction to Accessories: Men’s Fashion 203
Introduction to Fragrances: Men’s Fashion 204
Introduction to Hairstyles and Beards: Men’s Fashion 205 ←- you are here
Thank you for including me, Apollo!