Your New Cut For 2015
From burgeoning trends to essential gym kit, we’ve given you plenty of inspiration for switching up your personal style in 2015. But what about that all-important and ever-present accessory: your hair?
We caught up with resident hairstylist Dion Padan, who shed some light on finding your new hairstyle for the new year.
1. Make Waves
A lot of my clients come to me asking how best to achieve more movement in their hair. There are several ways to get a wavier look, though a large part of a wavy style’s success is dependent on how straight your hair is to begin with.
Start by applying a sea salt spray or texturising lotion to towel dry hair. Next, you could try blow drying with a hair diffuser, which will help to form waves as part of the drying process. A diffuser is a hair dryer attachment that – unsurprisingly – diffuses the air the dryer emits, allowing it to spread softly through the hair rather than blasting it full-on.
You should aim to get the diffuser as close to the root area as possible and slowly rotate the dryer to create the movement. You’ll also want to select a low speed setting to avoid creating a big fluffy head of hair. If you don’t have a diffuser at your disposal, use a hair dryer, again set at a low speed, and simply scrunch your hair with your hand to create the desired movement.
If it’s a more structured wave you’re after, then a ghd Mini Styler works particularly well, even on short hair. What’s key here is that you’re painstakingly methodical in the way that you manipulate the hair using the styler, taking care not to twist too tight or your hair will appear curly rather than wavy. Starting at the root area, twist the styler down the hair shaft to achieve the wave.
If using an electrical styler on a regular basis seems like more hassle than it’s worth, then there’s also the option of getting your hair permed. Yes, I did just say that. And no, I know you’re not trying out for the latest stage production of Fame. It sounds terrifying but having your hair permed on a large perm rod would not only create an exceptional wave, it’d also ensure your hair stays wavy until the perm grows out. Remember, the larger the rod the looser the wave. Speak to your stylist to see if it would be suitable for your hair.
Once you’ve laid the foundations, you can further accentuate your waves by using the right styling product; we recommend Fat Hed by Fudge, Easy Rider/Night Rider by Kevin Murphy or L’Oreal’s Deviation Paste. Try scrunching in a little at the root area to give your waves optimal support.
Wavy Hairstyles Lookbook
Redefine The Curl
Given the popularity of a short back and sides, going curly on top can create an eye-catching contrast that’s chock full of texture.
Much like sculpting waves, a great curl is best achieve using a ghd Mini Styler; clump together a portion of your hair and rotate the styler down through the shaft as tight as possible to maximise the curl.
Again, a perm is preferable (and not to be sneered at) for those who want a style that’s as low maintenance as possible. For a tighter curl, your stylist will need to apply a slightly different perming technique; talk to them to discuss exactly how tight you want your curl to be, and what’s most suitable for your hair type.
To style, apply some Fudge Liquid Skrewd or Bumble & Bumble Holding Foam to the hair before blow drying, and then use a product like Bumble & Bumble Curl Conscious Defining Cream, Kevin Murphy Easy Rider or Fudge Ends to achieve your desired finish.
Curly Hairstyles Lookbook
2. Go Longer
Long hair is set to have a moment in 2015. Granted, this type of cut isn’t for everyone but – on the right guy and styled the right way – it can look superb. One caveat: it’s best to avoid growing your hair long if it’s thick or unruly, as it will take a lot of time to blow dry and style each day.
Arguably the worst part of growing your hair long are those awkward, in-between stages where the length is not quite short, not quite long, and not quite fit for being seen by the general public. If you find yourself at one of these lousy, transitional periods, head straight to your stylist so that they can tidy it up and offer some expert advice on how best to get over the hump.
The key to making long hair work is taking good care of it and ensuring you get it cut regularly, so that you avoid excessive dryness and split ends. Care-wise, you’ll need a good quality shampoo and conditioner; a deep conditioning treatment or leave-in conditioner applied every week or so can also help keep your hair looking its absolute best.
When it comes to creating your style, there’s a particularly fine line between Fabio Lanzoni and Scandi-inspired cool. The trick is to aim for a look that’s relaxed and laid-back rather than overly preened.
With this in mind, many of my clients simply choose to wash their hair in the evening and let it dry naturally overnight for a lived in appearance. A similar finish can also be achieve with products like Kevin Murphy Undressed or Fudge Ends, which can be scrunched into blow dried hair.
Alternatively, you could try working some L’Oreal Mythic Oil or Moroccan Oil through towel dried hair and then let it dry naturally – this helps smooth the hair and gives it a super healthy shine.
However, if you’re growing your hair precisely to avoid all this precision styling, the ‘man bun’ and ‘top knot’ are both extremely on-trend styles at the moment, yet completely fuss-free.
Long Hairstyles Lookbook
3. The New Short: Lower Fades & Tramlines
Super tight sides have been the go-to for many guys for a while now. This year, why not experiment with slightly lower fades and maintain a little more length through the sides? This technique reduces the degree of scalp exposure, but still keeps the edges looking smart and sharp, as well as giving you a little more hair to play with when creating slick styles.
When creating a high shine style, preparation is key, so make sure to apply product to lightly towel dried hair. Rub some Fudge Fat Hed, Kevin Murphy Super Goo, or American Crew Pomade/Grooming Cream through the hair and blow dry while combing back or to the side to achieve the slick, precise finish we’re after.
For those keen to push the envelope, tramlines have been making a slow but sure comeback, aided by the 1990s style revival. Contrary to popular belief, tramlines don’t have to be tacky; there’s a whole spectrum of styles from subtle to statement-making. If you want to try it out, opt for a shaved-in parting, or if you’re up for going all out, ask your stylist to suggest a design they think would work for your specific hair type and head shape.
Short Hairstyles Lookbook
Bringing Hair Quirks Into Check
Your mum might have described them as ‘charming’ but trust us, keeping hair quirks in check comes highly recommended. If you struggle with strong hair growth patterns such as a double crown, nape whorl or widow’s peak, then it’s best to blunt cut these areas to keep the hair under control, as they can become particularly unruly as the hair grows out.
Here are a few tips for controlling or disguising these common hair growth patterns:
- Double Crown: Try growing a good bit of length through the top so that you can slick it back easily; this will help keep the crown under control. Alternatively, you could cut the crown area short and keep the length at the front – perfect for styling into a pompadour.
- Nape Whorl: Ask your stylist to taper the hairline to blend it in, and remember – the shorter the length the better, for optimal concealment.
- Cowlick: If you’re lucky, you may be able to embrace your cowlick, growing and styling your hair in such a way that it doesn’t bother you. However, if your lick tends to split or veer off in an odd direction, then it’s best to have your stylist cut the section as close as possible to the scalp.
Final Word
Whether you’re looking to tweak a tried and trusted style or opt for a complete overhaul, the aforementioned cuts are set to be key for the coming year.
Is changing up your hairstyle on your list of resolutions? Which style do you expect to explode in 2015?
Let us know in the comments section…
