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.

So, it’s time to change up your ‘do, huh?

There are plenty of hairstyles to choose from these days. So many that it can be difficult to make a decision as to what to go for.

If you haven’t been captivated by the spell of the Jon Snow inspired long hair movement, you can’t go too wrong with the tried and trusted fade or taper hairstyle.

Fades and tapers are all the rage these days—and they have been for eons. Both the fade and taper hairstyles provide a clean, crisp look that looks great in both a casual or professional setting.

This is arguably the best thing about these hairstyles. Their versatility.

You can go from boardroom to bar and not look out of place.

But did you know that there are subtle differences between the taper, fade, and taper fade haircuts?
 
Taper vs Fade: The Quick Guide

A taper is when your hair gradually changes from long to short from the top of your head down to your hairline. A taper only appears in two areas—your sideburns and your neckline.

A fade is a shorter version of a taper. A fade appears all the way around your head, ends above your natural hairline, and gradually ‘fades’ into your skin.

Fades and tapers are similar because they both reduce the length of your hair to form a gradient. They’re also both achieved by using a clipper, scissors, or often both.

But they’re different because the gradient in a fade happens quicker and usually sits above your hairline.

Here’s a great video which clearly explains the more technical
​differences between a taper and a fade:

What is a Taper Haircut?

As mentioned above, the process of tapering hair involves reducing its length in a manner that forms a gradient.

The gradient starts with longer hair at the top and leads into short hair closer to the hairline. Tapering is used in the majority of men’s haircuts to some degree, particularly near the base. This is where the haircut ends near the hairline.

Tapering allows for easy management and symmetry of different hairstyles.

A true ‘taper’ leaves quite a fair amount of hair at the top of the head. Typically it’s around two to four inches, but they can be longer.
 
What is a Fade haircut?

Like tapers, fades are also gradient haircuts.

Fades are different than tapers because the hair at the start of the gradient is typically much shorter than that of a taper.

There is a lot more attention to detail used in a fade. Like the name suggests, fade haircuts are supposed to give the impression of hair fading directly into the skin.

Fades can be different lengths. “Low fades” end very close to the hairline, and “high fades” come to a stop quite a bit above the ears.

Either way, the fade cut is supposed to blend the tone of the skin with the hair, giving the appearance of—well, a fade.

Fades are meant to be accurate and smooth, whereas tapers can be a bit more artistic or casual.

Fade cuts are also much more difficult to do at home because of this element of precision.

What is a Taper Fade?

The taper fade isn’t actually a style of hair. If you ask your barber for a taper fade, you’ll probably end up with a taper—unless you specify.

Taper fade is just a term that many people use to lump together the fade and the taper hairstyles since they’re so similar.

Technically (and somewhat confusingly), a taper is a form of fade, but a fade is not a form of taper.

As mentioned, if you’re going for a taper, you should know what type of taper you want.

If your barber isn’t clarifying if you want a low taper, a mid taper, or a high taper, they’re probably not communicating properly.

The same applies if you’re requesting a fade haircut.
 
Should You Get a Taper or a Fade?

It’s up to you, of course. Both are extremely popular hairstyles that lay the perfect foundation for many more intricate hairstyles.

You can add custom designs to your fades, such as having the fade end with triangles or ‘spikes.’ You can leave the top of your hair untouched and fade the sides.

A bald fade tapers down from the top, leading to completely shaved sides and back of your head. While a faux hawk has long hair in the middle of the head, similar to a Mohawk, but it tapers into a fade on the sides and back.

Conclusion

​Both tapers and fades are very versatile and can be worn in pretty much any social or work environment.

Let’s be honest, if the military approves of the fade, you can be sure that most employers won’t have a problem with them.

Tapers and fades are simple yet neat and provide the perfect base for more daring and intricate hairstyles.

They also demonstrate that you’re a man who puts effort into your appearance.

Every decade has new hairstyles that come into fashion before quickly leaving again. While these hairstyles might once have been the height of style, looking back on them you wonder what the heck everyone was thinking. In the 70’s, men’s hair was getting longer, shaggier, and unrulier.

The shaggification (not a word) of men’s hair really started in the 1960’s. Before then, men’s hair was mostly short and neat. When the 60’s arrived, young people started questioning society’s attitudes on everything, and long hair became a symbol of rebellion. Soon, popular musicians like The Beatles began wearing their hair long, and long hair reigned supreme.

You're going to have to click on the article for the full collection of excellent 1970’s male shaggyness. We’ve got flowing locks. Thick mutton chops. And of course plenty of bushy facial hair, too. The 70’s really were the hairiest decade.

Enter at your own risk >>>

Male-patterned baldness is nothing to be ashamed about—but it’s also nothing to ignore. If you attack hair loss at its first sign, you can stop baldness before it takes hold. Thinning hair happens to most of us in some form as we age. But only those who blow it off now will wake up one day and realize: “Oh no—I’m bald!” And once you cross the threshold and develop the dreaded “bald spot,” it’s extremely difficult to reverse your hair loss.

But it can be done. Scientific research on hair loss has ballooned over the last few decades, and what was once considered an unstoppable sign of aging is now a symptom that can be treated, if not cured. You just need to find the right hair loss product for you. And while the science is advanced these days, there’s still no miracle solution, no “magic bullet” to cure hair loss in everybody. Thus far, the only effective method way to find the hair loss product for you is to experiment until you find one that works.

What Causes Hair Loss?
Science has determined that the number one factor in hair loss and thinning hair is the production of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. DHT is a hormone—an androgen that helps give us men our maleness. But as we age, DHT can cause our hair follicles to shrink, leading to hair loss.

It’s also been linked to prostate health. This is why many men who experience urinary issues are told by their doctors to take a saw palmetto supplement, an herbal DHT blocker. It can decrease the size of the prostate and improve urinary health. But it can also spur hair growth. You’ll find plenty of synthetic DHT blockers on the market and on our list. But if you prefer an all-natural hair loss solution, saw palmetto supplement is the way to go.

Propidren combines the natural benefits of saw palmetto with biotin-based DHT blockers, in a handy pill form that’s not too expensive. So you get the best of both worlds. With 90 percent of Amazon users giving it a perfect five-star rating, it was impossible for us not to pick it as our best overall hair loss product.

What are some of the other hair-loss products and treatments we recommend?

• Amplixin Intensive Growth Serum—If you’re just noticing your hair beginning to thin, get on this train now and stop baldness before it takes hold;
• Nutrafol—This all-around supplement contains not only DHT blockers but ingredients to improve your sleep and reduce stress, which aids in recovery and spurs hair growth;
• DrFormulas HairOmega 3-in-1—This vitamin supplement contains a full spectrum of vitamin E (keratin) as well as DHT blockers;
• Prime Beard—If you can’t fill in your scraggly beard, try this stuff, which promises to improve overall hair,s kin, and nail health.

Before you begin the process of trying hair-loss products until you find one that works for you, here’s something to keep in mind: Most if not all hair-loss products will stop working as soon as you stop using them. But once you find a product that seems to work—and you need to give it at least three months before you can expect results—you must use it, or you’ll lose it. Simply maintain a regimen—like brushing your teeth—and you should have a mane like Momoa in no time.

​Click here for the Pros and Cons of the recommended products.

Just because men have less hair, it doesn’t mean it should go uncared for. You might think it’s enough to go to the barber and get a haircut every once in a while, but the truth is your hair needs good care to make sure you’re looking your absolute best. In order to make your life easier, here are a few simple tips every man should take to have a good hair care routine:

Drying your hair the right way
When the hair is wet, it is prone to damage and rubbing hair with a towel can harm the outer layers of hair which leads to split ends and fizziness. Instead, you should pat dry your hair and gently stroke it in the right direction. 

Once the excess water has disappeared, you can use a blow dryer. To reduce the noise and avoid waking up those around you, a quiet hair dryer can be used to dry out the remaining wetness and leave your hair looking neat, sharp and shiny. 

Choose your hair products wisely 
Using natural shampoos ensure that the ingredients are all-natural and good for your hair. Other shampoos include chemicals that are very harsh on the hair, whereas natural shampoos can promote growth, strength and hair thickness. 

Avoid over-washing 
It’s ok to take a shower every few hours, no one will complain – except your hair. It is not good to wash your hair over and over again as it prevents the production of essential oils that the hair and scalp need, leaving it dry and frizzy. It is advised to wash your hair only 2-3 times per week. 

Use conditioner 
Unlike popular belief, conditioners are not just a luxury that women use to untangle hair. Conditioners should be used with shampoo to moisturize the hair, make it stronger and add a bit of shine to it. 

Be gentle with your hair 
When you come to comb your hair, use gentle strokes without yanking and pulling at it. If you’re combing after you’ve used conditioner, the hair strands will be soft and moisturized allowing the combing to be easy. But, if not, just make sure you’re gentle. 

Visit your barber frequently 
Getting a hair trim can help keep your hair healthy and grow the right way. That’s why you should stop putting off your visit to the barber and try to make your trims once a month. This will greatly benefit your hair in the long-run.

Use the right tools for your hair 
Using a good quality comb with a wide-tooth can ensure that you’ll get your hair all nice and neat without pulling excessively at the hair strands. If you’re unable to find a good quality comb, it is better to use your hand to style your hair rather than a low-quality comb.


Looking good does not require much effort. Just changing a few habits can make sure that your hair is not only looking healthy, but also neat, tidy and attractive. It’s time to start putting that extra few touches to have amazing looking hair.

This article is from Fashionably Male