​TRY IT YOURSELF
For reference, here’s how to create Blake’s look by Rod Ortega as told to Hollywood Life:

“I used the 1-inch rollers on Blake to create waves. The size depends on how much body and wave you want. If you prefer more body and less wave, use larger sizes like the 1.5- or 1.75-inch rollers. If you want more of a wave, use the smaller rollers.”

​Slick back hair has done the rounds as the finishing touch of a corporate uniform. It’s simple, clean, and says you’re here to get shit done.

You might associate it with alpha male corporate warriors and sleazy sales guys in purple suits, but slick back hair can be the perfect antidote to a stale haircut that leaves you wanting something with a bit more punch.

Slick back hair projects a mature, business-first quality, and is sufficiently timeless that it won’t be consigned to the trash heap of out-of-fashion looks anytime soon. There’s room for this beyond the office, too. By playing with different products to suit the environment, you can also adapt it for weekend adventures when the suit and tie stays in the wardrobe.

This guide will give you a follicular roadmap to achieving a no-grease, no-sleaze slick back. You’ll discover whether your hair is up to the job, what products to use, and inspiring examples of the style to digest. Then, you can go back to watching Wall Street and studying stockbroking 101.

Is Your Hair Right For The Job?

Slick back hair is ubiquitous in western culture like bad dancing and guys called James, but that’s not to say it works for everyone. The texture, density, and growing pattern of your hair can make a huge difference in determining if you can pull the style off.

For starters, you probably know already that straight hair lends itself to a slicked back style. Straight hair follows a simple pattern, which is crucial for the overall shape of the cut. Hair growth direction is important, too. For some guys, hair naturally grows forward, making it resistant to the comb-and-pomade two punch routine.

If this sounds like you, then you need to think about getting cosy with a blow dryer and investing a bit more time in ‘training’ its shape. This won’t change the natural growing pattern, but it will make it slightly more co-operative to your styling attempts.

Thick hair can be an obstacle to getting this style right. A slicked back haircut generally necessitates low to medium density hair. Anything thicker, and you’ll find it’s difficult to both slick the hair back and maintain its shape. If you’ve found that your hair doesn’t stay in place, or requires handfuls of product, then ask the barber to use thinning shears. This alleviates some of the density in your hair, making it easier to pull back with a comb. Think of it as an inconvenient blessing. It’s better to have thick hair than none at all.

For curly haired gents, you might need to tap out early. It’s unlikely you’ll achieve Draper-esque slick style without investing your house mortgage in Olympic-pool quantities of pomade. That’s not to say the show can’t go on – you will just need to adapt the style to one that suits curly hair. These styles are messy off duty looks; think curly variations of David Beckham’s or a textured quiff.

Slick Back Hair Products

You’ve been to the local salon, and the product shelf seems to go on forever. There’s endless options for product out there – clay, paste, cream, pomade, gel, wax – and you might be feeling a bit of an information overload from all the choice. You’ll have the most success, however, if you keep it simple and stick to a pomade or clay – depending on the image you want to project.

Pomade is a definitive classic. It offers old-school, vintage appeal and is also a lifesaver for windy days. Pomade can subdue unruly hair, and keep everything where you need it for sustained periods of time, due to its weight. On the other hand, too much pomade – particularly high-shine, oil based products – can lead you into Wall Street bank shark territory.

Oil based pomades don’t wash out easily, either. As a result, water-based products are the best compromise for sufficient hold that won’t overstay its welcome after a solid washing. You will also find that pomade lends itself to a more formal, buttoned-up look that looks out of place in a casual environment.

So if you want to incorporate a schmick 1950’s corporate look, pomade is the man for the job. Remember, less is more with pomade – start with a little bit, evenly through the hair, and work your way up. Handfuls of product are for lounge lizards and clueless teenagers.

Clay is a more contemporary, versatile option. Clays come in a variety of options: heavy-duty concrete stuff for thick and unruly hair, or featherweight creams for something similar-but-not-quite pomade. Unlike oil or alcohol based products, clays are usually made with natural minerals (no nasty stuff). This adds texture and volume to your hair, which is ideal for casual effortlessness.

You will need to test a few different options to find which clay suits you – thick hair needs extreme hold clays, while thin, straight hair is usually happy with a lightweight option. Clays are the natural option for the guy who doesn’t spend too much time in the corporate rat race, and doesn’t feel at home with shiny hair.

No matter how desperate you find yourself, gel should stay on the shelf. Favoured by adolescents and early 2000’s revivalists, gel is usually alcohol-based, which will dehydrate your hair. Plus, it’s flammable. It’s unlikely that you will impress the girl at the bar if your head goes up in red-hot sparks.

For a finishing touch, remember that hairspray can lock your hair into place. But please, use it sparingly. Most hairsprays add a glossy finish (too much of which will make your hair look like a helmet). They’re also about as flammable as a remix of Stayin Alive. A spray or two at key points, and nothing more.

Tools & Equipment

The Undercut
Arguably the most popular short hairstyle of the last five years. Thanks to Boardwalk Empire and just about every other show with a stylish leading man, the undercut has done the rounds among the young and trying-to-stay-young as the haircut of the moment.

To achieve this, you will need to spend a chunk of time growing out the front with a tapered crown. Maintain blended sides and a medium fade, until you can slick the top over to the back of your head. Otherwise, the cut will look tropical-fruit disproportionate.  Afterwards, it’s a case of choosing a low or high fade. We recommend sitting somewhere in the middle.

A super low fade can lead you into 80’s finance territory, while a high fade can unfortunately exaggerate the shape of your head. That being said, the undercut is doing the rounds for a reason. It’s as versatile as.

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You can slick it back with pomade, or use clays for a more natural approach. Works well for the 9-5 and off duty fun. Straight, medium-density hair is the ticket here, but it can work with curly hair if you’re not chasing the Jimmy Darmody look.
 
This article first appeared on D'MARGE

Summer is here. As the days become longer it’s time for lazy after work drinks, trips to the beach, and generally being out and about. And we all want to look good for it. But summer takes its toll on our locks, causing hair damage that can have long lasting impacts.
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So while you get yourself prepped for the fine weather make sure you know where the hot spots will be when it comes to your hair. Try and minimise exposure to these summer hair killers and you’ll avoid that ‘Tom Hanks in Cast Away’ look.

SUN DAMAGED HAIR
​Everybody loves a bit of sun, and a tan looks great. But we also know that too much sun exposure isn’t good for your skin. It’s the same for your hair. Some of us catch the sun and it gives our hair a natural highlight, but letting your hair bake in the sun is bad news.

Sun damaged hair has a dry and dull look. That’s because the intense UV light begins to break down the proteins in the hair that give it sheen and strength. The extra heat also plays havoc with your hair.

So over the summer months, if you’re out and about a lot, your hair can become weak and brittle. Bad news for anybody but if you have thinning hair this can lead to increased breakage and shedding of hair, which isn’t what you want.

You’re more at risk of getting sun-damaged hair if you have lighter locks or fine hair.

CHLORINE DAMAGED HAIR
Summer time means holidays in the sun, which means plenty of diving into the pool to cool off, which also means your hair gets a pretty regular soaking in chlorine.

Chlorine is great for killing bugs and bacteria, but it’s a nightmare for hair health as anybody who swims regularly can tell you. Firstly, chlorine acts much like a bleach and reacts with the pigmentation in your hair, gradually altering its colour.

Of more concern to anybody with thinning hair is the fact that chlorine strips your hair of its natural oils and damages hair proteins, which in turn weakens your hair.

Chlorine damaged hair will be dull and dry looking and begin to feel very coarse. Failing to condition your hair and take care when brushing or combing can result in it breaking easily. And when you think that soaking in the pool is probably sandwiched between long sessions of lounging in the sun, it’s double trouble for your hair.

SALT WATER HAIR
There’s no doubt that hair can look great when you come striding fresh out of the ocean, especially if you have a little length in your style. That’s why salt sprays are so popular. But there’s a big difference between a spritz of salt spray and drenching your hair in the ocean day in and day out. Frequently soaking your hair in the salt water for extended periods of time can weaken it and result in breakage.

Salt water hair is that rough and ratty look and you get it because the salinity of the sea sucks all the moisture out of your hair. As the hair loses its natural oils and water content it dries, begins to split and if you have longer hair it can tangle up.

So while a quick splash in the sea is fine don’t stay in too long.

This article appeared on MR

Try these hair washing tips, and you’ll never go back to your old routine.
 
Ah, the French, with their baguettes, croissants, and perfectly tousled I-woke-up-like-this hair. While we don’t have a hack for the bread yet, the hair is attainable. We sat down with French hair master Christophe Robin (at his pop-up salon in Tribeca) to unlock his secrets.

The first cause of hair loss is an oily scalp, so mastering the right washing technique is key to lovely locks. Here, Robin outlines seven simple steps for attaining that je ne sais quoi look.

1. Detangle.
(Oh, man, we have not been doing this.) “Always detangle your hair first with a good brush when it’s dry,” says Robin.

2. A dab will do.
After you wet your hair, put a tiny amount of shampoo onto your hands. “You put it onto your scalp only, and add a small amount of water,” he explains. “People put too much shampoo all the time, and it’s difficult to rinse.”

3. Only apply shampoo to the scalp.
“You add water and emulsify, and never touch the ends,” he says. “You let it drip, or very gently pull your hands through your ends just once.” Leave the ends alone: Shampoo causes tangles.

4. Condition.
After you rinse (very, very well), the hair should be squeaky clean. Add conditioner only on the ends. Let it sit for two minutes, and rinse. Never put a conditioner on the scalp.

5. Stop washing every day.
“Twice a week is enough—as long as you’re doing it effectively,” assures Robin.

6. Eat well.
“The liver is linked to the scalp, so try to eat properly, and do a hair detox, too,” Robin says. “My thing is to treat the hair deeply, same thing for makeup—when you have great skin, you don’t need much makeup, and it will last all day,” says Robin.

7. Detox your scalp.
There are a variety of detoxes on the market that are designed to pull sebum, oil, debris, and other yucky stuff from your scalp. Two of our favorites are from Robin’s line. The first is cult favorite Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt. It’s equal parts revolutionary, tingly, and gratifying.


We're also looking forward to the soon-to-be-released Cleansing Volumizing Paste with Pure Rassoul Clay and Rose Extracts. It’s engineered to volumize hair and let the scalp breathe. No more hair falling flat like a souffle right after styling.

The trick for any hair detox product is to really work it into the scalp. Your arms should be tired at the end of the treatment. Use a tablespoon, rub into wet (but not dripping) hair, and scrub the scalp. “Add water, and really lather, rest, and then add water and really lather and then rest again,” says Robin.

This article first appeared on Domino