There are a couple different ways to categorize trends in the hair industry – most styles are either fashion forward and couture or consumer-friendly and wearable. Generally speaking, most male celebrities will fall into the wearable trend side of the industry.
During last night's Oscars ceremony, most of the men who walked the red carpet debuted variations of a classic tapered hairstyle – a cut that will be frequently requested in salons and barber shops. This appears to be the most popular look, and I think we’ll see quite a few variations of this hairstyle throughout the year. An emerging trend – and one a few celebs debuted on this year’s carpet – is a short skin-tight fade with cropped sides and textured tops. While longer tousled hair - like Dev Patel’s – will continue to hold strong through 2017, but styles still stay too short to be pulled back into a bun.
Ryan Gosling has a signature approach to grooming with a modern twist. While on trend, he still manages to achieve a timeless look. Gosling has played around with his part in the past, but always seems to revert back to a placement right above the center of his eye. This style works best for his face shape, and will keep the top of his hair from getting too tall and creating an imbalance with his longer chin.
Achieve Gosling’s signature style:
1. Section the top up from the bottom at the parietal. Use a clipper-over-comb technique and the Andis grey cutting comb. Work in vertical sections straight up the side, being cautious to not follow the head shape. Continue following your guide with the same process around the bottom of the head to the other temple.
2. Move to the nape and tip the head slightly away to create a clean taper. Continue with clipper-over-comb and work straight up along a vertical plane to connect the outer perimeter to the length around the occipital.
3. Part the hair on top straight down the center and continue to use your clipper with a clipper-over-finger technique. Start at the center crown and take 1-ich sections moving towards the front perimeter. At the front hairline, direct the hair back to preserve length. Repeat on the other side and then comb the hair straight up from the top center and remove the small point created. Use your trimmer to clean up the neckline and perimeter.
4. To style, use a light hold styling cream and apply to towel dried hair. Use a small vent brush and blow dryer with nozzle attachment. Alternate between combing the hair on the top from side to side to give it a slightly tousled look. Finish with a medium hold styling cream or hairspray.
Andrew Garfield knows which styles work best for him, and debuted a shorter version of his expertly coiffed hair on this year’s carpet. It can be difficult for a man with such a tall and narrow frame to pull this look off – if the haircut is too tall or narrow it will only exemplify his height, and if it is too wide, it runs the risk of becoming “bulbous” or too round – but the overall length and shape work well for him.
Get Garfield’s classic style:
1. Section the top up from the bottom at the parietal. Use a clipper-over-comb technique and the Andis grey cutting comb. Tip the head slightly away to build up weight through the parietal as you work straight up. Continue following your guide with the same process around the bottom of the head to the other temple.
2. Move to the nape and tip the head farther away. This will open up the small area to allow a stronger taper without any scalp exposure. Work straight up along a vertical plane to connect the outer perimeter to the length around the occipital.
3. Place the part on the top how your client plans to style it. If they desire to go side to side, the part down the middle. Continue to use your clipper and use a clipper-over-finger technique. Start at the center crown and take 1-ich sections moving towards the front perimeter. Begin to direct the hair back towards the crown to preserve length in the front. Repeat on the other side. Then Comb the hair straight up from the top center and remove the small point created. Finish the haircut with your trimmer to clean up the perimeter.
4. To style, use a medium hold styling cream and apply to towel dried hair. Use a small vent brush and blow dryer with nozzle attachment. Alternate between combing the hair along the front hairline straight up and back to build slight volume and set the style. Finish with a little more medium styling cream or light hold hairspray.
Mahershala Ali is quickly becoming a household name this awards season, and his hair feels the most “of the moment” without being too fashion forward. The style is crisp and tight through the sides with just the right amount of length on top. The overall shape works well for him, and will be a popular style for 2017.
Create Ali’s “of the moment” style:
1. Pick through the hair to loosen the curl. If you are using an adjustable clipper, start with the blade open completely and fade all the way up the side to the parietal working around the bottom of the head to the other temple. Then close the blade slightly and work in the same pattern only slightly lower. Continue with this sequence moving 1-inch lower every time, blending up into the previously cut area with a quick scooping or c-stroke motion.
2. Place the #1 attachment on your clipper and with the blade open, cut with the grain through the parietal. Then repeat only this time blend just above the fade into the parietal working against the grain. This will help blend the bottom in with the top.
3. Depending on how long you want the length through the top to be, place the desired length attachment on your clipper to continue. Then cut the top going with the grain or direction of growth to maintain the curl. Use your trimmer to clean up the perimeter and to blend out any dark spots within the haircut working over your small barbering comb.
4. To style, apply a light amount of product and then use a sponge or towel to create the tight curls. Gently rub it in small circles around just the top of the head until the desired amount of curl is created.
About Jessica: Jessica has devoted her entire professional career to the craft of men’s grooming and the art of classic barbering. While enrolled in the Aveda Institute, Jessica began apprenticing under Kurt Kueffner in classic barbering techniques and assisted in the opening of his new luxury men's salon, MENSDEPT. After working with him for many years and developing a men's training curriculum and product line, Jessica was recruited by Andis Clipper Company to join their International Education Team. Her specialties include men's grooming and short women's haircuts, though she is also experienced in longer haircuts and styles. Jessica recently accepted the position of International Education Manager for Andis Company in the Barber and Beauty division, where she is dedicated to developing curriculum for men’s haircutting programs and teaching advanced education classes across the country.
[Images: Getty Images]
