There is a lot more to think about right now than hair but it’s more than just hair. It’s also about the people that do hair. One of the many industries impacted by the coronavirus is hair and beauty services. Even before public health orders closed down barbershops and hair salons in some states, many barbers and stylists closed voluntarily to be safe.

How long it will last is hard to say but optimistically, it could be only until the end of April. Some barbershops are still selling gift cards and hair products online or booking future appointments. That is a great way to support barbers at this time.
Now, what to do with your hair until barbershops reopen? Like many things in life, you can go with it or take matters into your own hands.

The good news is it’s a great time to grow hair and/or a beard. Even if you have video meetings for work, the small size and blurry camera will hide most of the awkward phase. The same is true if you try to cut your own hair.

Here’s how to take care of your hair at home while self-quarantining.

Just a note, this is for all those work-at-home, self-quarantined, social-distancing people. If you’re out there working through this crisis, thank you and be well.

Wait it out.
Depending on how long the closures are, this could be an opportunity to grow hair out and try a longer look. Go with the flow and rock the flow haircut. Or embrace that mullet. In the meantime, use some product to keep hair out of the face or if locks are long enough, try the man bun.

Buzz it off.
Some guys are used to keep hair trimmed all the time. If that’s you, the easiest at-home, do-it-yourself haircuts is the buzz. Pick a guard length and go for it. Start with a longer guard just in case the results feel shorter than expected. Try one of these trimmers.

At home haircuts.
While we don’t often recommend trying to cut hair at home, there is no choice right now. There are some excellent Youtube tutorials available to guide you through step by step. Try to find one showing the cut you want and go for it. Even better if you can enlist some help for the sides and back. If you’re doing this yourself, stick to the fringe area.

And remember, haircutting scissors are much sharper than regular scissors. That means two things. One, use them so you don’t damage hair. And two, take care not to cut yourself.

Get hair inspiration.
Even if you can’t get hair cut or the cut you want, this won’t last forever. Keep checking out this site and Instagram for hair inspiration. With longer hair, you may be able to try a look you never considered before.

Grow a beard.
Well, all the sports seasons are off but you can still grow that play-off beard. Whether it’s your first time with facial hair or not, check out these tips for growing a beard to keep the process looking and feeling good.

That should do it. 

Stay 6-feet apart out there and wash your hands!

from Men's Hairstyle Trends

One of the things I really don't like hearing from my clients is when their guy say's their hair is "Just OK".  They'll cheap out on getting a decent haircut and settle for something that's "Just OK".   Come on guys.  Don't neglect your most important accessory.  

The thing you don't have to settle for when it comes to your hair is it just being "Just OK".  Below is a list of tips to get you through those "Just OK" hair days.

My top tips would be:

• Get a Haircut Every 4-6 Weeks
• Always Condition After You Shampoo (And Even When You Don't)
• Be Gentle When Towel Drying Your Hair
• The Way Your Hair Dries Is The Way It's Going to Stay
• Don't Cheap Out
• And most important: Don't Cut it Yourself 

If there’s one thing that unites humanity, it’s that we all want great hair, but I’ll be the first to admit, achieving it is a struggle. When good hair days feel few and far between, it’s easy to settle for just okay. Well, fellow men, we don’t have to.
​
The goal of most men is to spend as little time in the bathroom as possible. That’s why we tend to cut our hair shorter. Less hair means less maintenance, right? But, the pitfalls of this thinking is that the tenants of good hair apply no matter how long your hair is, what texture it is, or how much you have. Attaining great hair doesn’t take a lot of effort, either, as long as you know what to do.

Here are the best tips for all men to achieve their best hair possible, straight from the experts.

Read More >>

​You might think that blow drying your hair is adding another unnecessary grooming step to your already overwhelming routine, but think again. The truth is that blow drying your hair, although it might add a couple minutes to your routine, can solve so many of your styling woes and make you realize just how much potential your hair actually has. Here’s what a good blow dry does for your hair and your confidence.

1. It forces you to streamline your grooming routine
When you first start using a blow dryer, it can feel a little daunting, but once you get the hang of it and love the results, you will want to budget a little extra time in the morning to do it. Adding another step to an already rushed morning routine might be difficult in the beginning, but it will be worth the extra hassle. It’ll also force you to perfect a morning grooming routine. Pretty soon you’ll have your timing down pat and will be able to fit it all in before you walk out the door in the morning. Plus, you also have the added option of blow drying your hair in the evening and not interrupting your morning routine.
 
2. It lays the groundwork for styling
Grooming guru Eric Neher tells Birchbox that not only is blow drying your hair a great way to de-frizz, but it lays the groundwork for using pomade and hair paste, as these products will only adhere to and shape your hair if it’s completely dry. A quick towel dry is not going to cut it. Think about it this way: If you’re a man who’s into styling his hair with product, using a blow dryer can help you cut down time in your grooming routine. Blow drying your hair can take less than a minute, whereas air drying it can take significantly longer.
 
3. It gives you the hair you’ve always wanted
Gentleman, there’s a reason why the women’s hair care industry does so well, why blow outs can cost upward of $50, and why dry bar’s are popping up all over the place: Most women don’t like their natural hair and are willing to put in the extra time (and money) to do something about it.

GQ writer Stephen J. Praetorius explored his skepticism about adding a blow dryer to his hair grooming routine after so many years of air drying his locks. Praetorius believed that there was no way a blow dryer could give him perfectly coiffed locks or fight the genetic card he was dealt, and that it would be too overwhelming and more trouble than it’s worth. He found out that he was oh-so-wrong. He found that after about a three-minute learning curve his hair started to look the way he’d always hoped it would — full, but not frizzy, and neat looking but not overly meticulous. Additionally, he found that his pomades held better.

Conclusion: Even the nicest hair needs a little bit of help. All of those red carpet styles you see on men? No one just looks that good naturally. Welcome to the laboring world of beauty.

4. It straightens your hair
Do you have curly hair but have always wanted straight hair? Well, a lot of those sleek, straight looks you covet require a blow dryer. To straighten your hair, Neher suggests that you start off by working a conditioning prep through damp hair right after the shower to ensure smooth results. Next, part your hair where you want it, grabbing a small round brush, and begin blow drying. Be sure to make long strokes while following the brush closely with the blow dryer, going until it’s fully dry from root to tip. Once it’s dry, use a pomade and just a little hair spray as well. Style with your hands.

5. It increases your confidence
Liking the way you look results in confidence. Confidence results in getting things done. Ergo, blow drying your hair can do more for you than make you look good. If you feel good, it’ll reflect in your everyday activities — from your job to working out.

Hair. How difficult can it really be? Quite, it turns out. From using the wrong products to using too much of the right product to using product to create a style you shouldn’t be caught dead with, there’s plenty of scope for getting it wrong.

To help bring an end to these follicular #fails, we asked some of the UK’s top hair experts to scratch their heads and dish the dirt on their most-loathed hair mistakes, and how you can avoid them.

1) Using A 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner

To understand why this particular mistake is a serious barnet blunder requires some science. Each strand of hair on your head is covered in ‘scales’ called cuticles, and in order to properly clean your locks, these cuticles need to be ‘opened up’ using shampoo to release any clingy pollution or product build-up. A conditioner’s job, on the other hand, is to moisturise and then ‘close’ hair cuticles.

“For that reason, 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner products simply do not work,” says Daniel Davies, manager at Pall Mall Barbers. “A single product cannot open and close the cuticle at the same time. This results in hair that’s squeaky clean but cuticles that aren’t closed, meaning the hair will pick up pollutants and get dirtier quicker.”

The Fix

To give your pompadour the best chance of standing tall, Davies suggests washing your hair with dedicated shampoo at the beginning of your shower. After rinsing thoroughly, apply a conditioner based on your hair type and leave it to soak in for the remainder of your shower before rinsing out at the end.

“This system deeply cleanses both the hair and scalp and allows time for a conditioner to penetrate the hair, leaving it healthy and moisturised.”

2) Skimping On Scalp Care

Washing your hair is all well and good, but it’ll all be for naught if you don’t take proper care of your scalp. “It’s paramount that the scalp is also looked after to ensure the optimum health of the hair,” says Aveda Master Barber Stelios Nicolaou.

For anyone who slathers on heavy styling aids like wax or gel, this step is even more important as failing to get rid of the daily gunk can result in dry hair, irritation and even dandruff.

The Fix

“When it comes to your scalp, you need a product that will wash away styling product build-up, excess sebum and other impurities,” says Nicolaou.

Bag yourself a product that does this with gentle abrasion, such as something containing jojoba beads to softly scrub away any dross that’s accumulated in your hair. Or, for a really deep and thorough cleanse, consider a more involved treatment such as a scalp mask, which allows active ingredients to absorb fully.

3) Choosing A Hairstyle That Doesn’t Suit You

You might’ve spied that comb-over fade on an A-lister’s Instagram, but that doesn’t mean it’ll get as many likes on you.

“Unfortunately, we’re not all blessed with the same medium-thick, wavy hair that models and superstars are,” says Ruffians creative director Denis Robinson. “For that reason, we really need to be honest with ourselves when choosing our haircuts.”

The Fix

Rather than plonking yourself down in the chair and pointing to a picture on your phone, Robinson suggests a spot of talking therapy before your barber gets to work. “Have a proper chat with the person holding the scissors; if they’re worth their salt they’ll help you figure out the best look for you, taking into account your face shape, hair type, overall style, lifestyle and personality.”

Don’t be afraid to open up the conversation by talking about what your hair does naturally, any kinks or growth patterns that you do, or don’t, like. And you can even extend this to areas such as your beard and eyebrows to find a natural-looking style that works for you that you can then keep up at home.

4) Using Too Much Product

As deliciously coconutty as that cream pomade might smell, there is such a thing as too much hair product.

“Having too much in your hair is never a good look and a dead giveaway that you don’t know what you’re doing,” says Robinson. “It’s like wearing too much cologne – are you covering up something bad?”

The Fix

While a ‘more is more’ approach might be tempting, it’s in your best interest to steer conservative. “Always start with a small amount of product, adding more as needed,” says Jacqui Weaver, creative director at London’s Fish Salon. “After all, you can always add more but you can’t take any away.”

Rubbing product through your hands helps to warm its molecules and make it easier to distribute evenly throughout your hair. Also vital is targeting the roots of your hair by applying product (especially dryer, matte products) to the base of your hair first. Follow these steps and you’ll avoid clumped hair ends and visible residue.

5) DIY Hair-Dying

Tired of grey hair’s ageing effect? Or maybe you just fancy a change? Whatever your reason for dyeing your hair, there’s a correct way to do it. And that’s not at home, in the dark, alone, having built up the courage by sinking a beer or five.

“Colouring is something that’s hard to achieve yourself,” says Sassoon men’s grooming expert Joshua Gibson. “Classic mistakes are canary yellow bleaches, hair dyed too dark or flat for any skin tone, or warm colour tones that pick up on grey and make it look luminescent.

The Fix

As a general rule of thumb, cooler hair colour tones and understated placement tend to suit men better than warmer colours, which is basically code for step away from the damn applicator.

“You should always seek expert advice before colouring your hair for the first time or changing your hair colour,” says Gibson. “And always have an allergy test, too.”

6) Shaving Your Head Instead Of Your Sideburns

There isn’t a barber in the game who hasn’t witnessed first-hand the aftermath of men taking their razor as high as their temples. “This is a classic mistake of starting your face shave too high in your hairline,” says Gibson.

The problem with taking the blades too high up your bonce is that it’s very difficult to rectify the result without taking your whole haircut shorter. Or reluctantly wearing a hat for the next six weeks.

The Fix

Avoiding the need for an enforced buzz cut is a simple case of showing some restraint with the razor.

“Make a point of starting no higher than the top of the cheekbones, around your eye line. This is especially important for longer face shapes, as long sideburns will broaden the shape of the face.”

7) Holding On To What You Don’t Have

Like death and taxes, receding hairlines are an unfortunate fact of life. More unfortunate though, is failing to deal with one correctly. “Many men grow the hair at the front of their head to hide their baldness, but this actually has the opposite effect, making any bald patches even more obvious,” says celebrity hairstylist Jamie Stevens.

The Fix

Embrace the next stage of your life, and the hairstyle to go with it. “Try taking the top shorter at the front, and ask your barber or stylist for their opinion on a way you could change your look to minimise the appearance of your baldness,” says Stevens.

Or cheat by using products that can be used to fill in gaps, helping make your hair appear that bit thicker and fuller.