In the last few years we have seen trend in men’s hair root itself in virtually every decade of the last century. Five years ago it was the Great Gatsby period of the 1920’s. Three years ago it was the post war boom of the late 40’s and early 50’s. None of us need to be reminded that we’ve only just escaped the influences of the AMC television series (which must not be named) set in the 60’s. Regardless if you relate to the Greasers or the Socials of the 50’s, pompadours are always cool and their prevalence was stronger than ever as we closed out 2011.
What’s happening as we start anew in 2012? We all know that hair is influenced heavily by what is happening in fashion. Editorially speaking, fashion influences in 2012 originate from the entire 20th century, whether it’s the early to mid part of the century when men wore hats or later century when fashion loosened and headed down the road of extravagance (sometimes bordering on outrageous). Designers are pulling inspiration from 90 years of style influences such as Art Deco, Film Noir, Counter Culture and New Wave.
Moving into the New Year, men’s fashion is less about trend and more about personal style (see here); Clearly, how a man is groomed will speak volumes about his personal style. When it comes down to it, how a man simply styles his hair is what will enable him to pick a decade. Just as a smartly chosen accessory can change the feel of a suit styling a man’s hair in different ways can change the feel of the cut. Styling becomes a wild card accessory.
The key is having a cut that can support the versatility of choosing a decade when standing in front of a mirror. Haircuts, short medium or long, rooted in classically groomed shapes are critical to the success of this endeavor. Think of the sides and back of a man’s hair as the foundation. Even if haircuts are long enough to cover the ears, the foundation will be primarily rooted in the groomed, clean look of the 40’s and 50’s, when men wore hats. How long the top is will be determined by a client’s willingness to change his look from day to day and event to event. Longer hair leaves more versatility to work with trend throughout.
Whether your influence is Gable, Brando, Mcqueen, Sid Viscous or John Taylor, haircuts are structured and the finished product is executed with thought. Look to past decades for inspiration, not replication. Whether a guy realizes it or not, he already has a personal style. What better time to hone that style with such inspiration than the beginning of a new year?
When Men Wore Hats author, Anthony Lickteig, is a Master Stylist at our Downtown location. He specializes in women's hairstyles of all lengths and textures, and has been creating amazing hairstyles since 1998. While he has extensive training and experience on the current hair trends in women’s styles, he is also specifically trained in creating men’s hairstyles. As Juut's Men's Specialist, Anthony is responsible for the development of men's curriculum and has trained scores of stylists in advanced cutting techniques. He is also responsible for men's seasonal trend work. Learn more by following Anthony on Twitter (@anthony_juutmen) or by checking out his profile page.