Your impeccable layering game is for naught if your hair won’t behave. But wandering into Supercuts with a tear-out of David Beckham won’t fix a double crown that leaves you looking like you styled your hair by sticking your finger in a socket.But deploy the right tools and you can whip even the wildest manes into line – so long as you know what you’re fighting against. Let Adam Brady, trends expert at London’s Ruffians Barbers, be your guide through the follicular fog.

The Problem: Cowlicks
The cow’s contribution to your look should be as a jacket, not a hair stylist. These swirls of hair grow against the direction you want to style it in, creating the whorls that cow’s tongues imprint on their calves, and which stick up when everything else lies flat.

Though most common at the crown, they can appear anywhere, to taunt your hair wax’s claimed effectiveness.

The Fix: Go With The Flow
Slicking on product won’t help, so know when to beat a tactical treat. “Choose the right hairstyle to embrace the natural direction of your hair,” says Brady. If your cowlick sticks up from the back of your head, a switched-on groomsman will cut it short, then sweep the hair in that direction.

“It all depends where your cowlick is,” says Brady. If it’s at the crown, ask your barber to keep more length there to help weigh it down. If it’s the front that’s unruly, a longer fringe has the same taming effect. If you’re more Vin Diesel than Poldark, a buzzcut is equally effective.

The Problem: Widow’s Peak
The hair of choice for those considering a career as a Bond villain, the widow’s peak (or temporal recession to those in the trade) occurs when the hairline begins to recede on either side.

Like male-pattern baldness, the peak is unavoidable for some men – bar expensive treatments like hair transplants and oral drugs like propecia.
 
The Fix: Forward-Facing
“The alternative to treatment is directing your hair forward into a fringe,” says Brady. Grow your hair slightly longer and ask your barber to taper your new fringe, to disguise the sharp peak. And ward off early comparisons to Poirot.
 
The Problem: Unruly Side Parting
You’ve watched a few too many 1920s period dramas and you’re gunning for the Great Gatsby side parting, thinking it’ll be just the dapper touch needed for your new smart-casual ensemble. So why is your hair refusing to play ball, old sport?

The Fix: Go Natural
One of the main problems with upended and abandoned side partings is that your hair is not supposed to bend that way. “Ensure you’ve found your natural side parting,” says Brady, by trying both sides and seeing which sits most naturally.

Another key could be that the lengths between side and top are uneven, creating a fan effect as your shorter hair tries to cope. Once both are fixed, blast wet hair into place to part your barnet like Moses.
 
The Problem: Overgrown Crown
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. As your hair stretches towards the back of your head, an ill-suited style will work against the hair, forcing it to stick up on end when you least want it to.

“The crown always seems to grow a bit more quickly than the rest of your hair, making it tricky to sweep your hair back,” says Brady.
 
The Fix: Taper Your Do
Take advantage of the crown’s growth speed and taper towards the back. “If you are growing out the front section of your hair, ask the barber to leave it longer there and gradually go down to a shorter length at the crown,” says Brady.
You’ll still get some sticking up, but because there’s more volume at the front you’ll look even all over. And it’s looks that count.

Guys are going gray — on purpose.

The newest hair trend for young guys has them looking a lot more like their older peers, with completely dyed fake gray heads, according to The New York Times.

Celebrities from YouTube star Tyler Oakley to Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy and former One Direction star Zayn Malik have been sporting the look.

A rep from Amazon told The Times that searches for gray hair dye are up, and a Google trends report from last year also noted that there was an increase of 234% in searches for gray hair.

Salon workers that talked to The Times agree. "Men are embracing color," according to the colorist in Denver who worked on Kenworthy's hair.

Or, lack of color, as the case may be.

So why are men doing it? Turns out it's not about trying to look older.

"It’s kind of an ironic statement, especially when the wearer is noticeably young and probably years away from natural graying," Michael Fisher, the creative director of menswear at a trend-forecasting agency, told The Times. "It's just another bold way to stand out from the crowd."

For men looking into the lifestyle change, beware: It's a serious commitment.

A dye job, which usually consists of a bleach and two coloring treatments, can run between $350 and $600, not including salon touch-ups and the cost of special color-safe conditioners.

HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY GROW YOUR HAIR OUT

THE IN-BETWEEN PERIOD
Long hair is without a doubt becoming a major trend amongst guys in 2015. The good thing about long hair trends is that there is a formidable barrier of entry. Not many people can pull off luscious locks, many lose their minds during the awkward middle phase and some simply don’t have the patience to pull through. This post will cover all these topics and more!

STAYING ON TRACK
Every guy that has ever grown out their hair has dealt with the awkward in-between length blah hair. Get used to the idea of wearing hats and headbands to cover up that medium length atrocity. An important concept many guys forgo is: If you want great looking long hair later on, you need to start taking good care of your hair NOW. This means: No tight ponytails. Don’t overly brush your hair. No brushing wet hair. Keep blow-drying/heating to an absolute minimum. No coloring. No Bleaching. Try to keep Shampooing to 2-3 times/week.

BE CONFIDENT!
Growing a long hairstyle is more than just letting your hair grow out. You need to maintain that mane.

1. Take proper care of your side burns, trim them if they get to long as to avoid the long wispy look.
2. Style your hair based on its CURRENT Length. Meaning don’t try and force a man bun or top know if you don’t have the length, you will just look ridiculous, trust me.
3. The normal rate of hair growth in a person is about half an inch per month, so if you’re truly dedicated, be ready for the long haul.
4. Remember, growing out your hair doesn’t mean you forgo haircuts. Try and get a haircut every 3 months but make sure you clearly communicate to your barber/stylist you want to keep the length, but just clean up/trim the edges. Finally…

Overcoming fear is a matter of confidence. Being confident in your hair-growth decision requires confident care, care that speaks to your commitment to making long hair look good. Good luck!

Following London Collections Men, celebrity hairdresser and all around barnet expert Jamie Stevens gives us the low down on the top trends to look out for this year. Clippers at the ready...

Why: The indie trend is really coming back and this always inspires guys to go the whole way to complete the look.

What to ask for: You will need to have some length to your hair to really get this look, it's perfect for guys with longer hair who want something different. Ask for a fringe with some of the length kept toward the sideburns and a bit shorter through the back. Think Oasis and you can't go wrong.

How to style it: To style, try using some MR Salt Spray to add some light texture and grittiness before blowdrying

Why: Guys who are done with longer hair but don't want to cut it all off are going for a more mid-length finish, this is a great option as it is versatile and can look effortlessly cool. This for me will be a big one.

What to ask for: Ask your stylist to cut your hair quite square but point cut it as this will keep the texture in it and layer it enough to be able to slick it back but also go for an on trend tousled finish.‎

To style: ‎Use some MR Salt Spray and dry in all over keeping the hair moving to help give lift and shape. Then use MR Clay, focusing on teasing the roots and working out to give yourself a dishevelled textured finish. Finally, shape to desired style.

Why: This has been building since last season and has already seen many variations so far. It's a really cool look and I expect it to be here for some time.

What to ask for: I think this looks best when the sides are a lot shorter and there is some disconnection from the top. Have the fringe cut in above the eyebrows and disconnected from the sides for maximum effect. For a more aggressive look have it taken shorter and perfectly straight to give maximum impact, for a softer dishevelled look have the ends more choppy and more textured through the top.

To style: Finish the look with a small amount of Matrix Style Link Matte Definer to give hold to a smoother finish or texture to a messy one

Why: Men have really adopted the longer hair look and we have seen many different adaptations over the previous year and this one is no different. Expect more textured versions and less polished finishes.

What to ask for: To go on trend, ask for your stylist to keep the length on the perimeter shape and really texturise the interior, this will allow you to wear it forward and a lot messier whilst still keeping some versatility.

To style: Try misting in some MR Salt Spray and scrunch drying to really expose the texture‎.

Why: A style staple that can be dressed up or down. This look works on so many men for work and play so always lingers around and stays in fashion.

What to ask for: This depends on what you personally want but works best when sides are shorter and length kept on to. Ask to have the sides taken to your desired length but aim to have the shape taper in at the sides and the neckline. Then have the top cut to blend in, if ease is the main goal try having a parting shaved in.

To style: Make sure you use a smoothing product to get the right finish, try using a mixture of Matrix Style Link Smooth Setter and hold boost before blowdrying to get smooth results with hold, then finish with some MR Paste‎.‎

Men's Hair Styles: Dealing with Thick, Wavy, Unruly Hair
By Dion Padan

The majority of the comments left on my previous two articles have been from readers wanting to know the best way to deal with thick, long, wavy or unruly hair, so I thought I would tackle this dilemma with a specific article on what to do if you fall into this category. This type of hair can be difficult to manage but I hope that by following some of my simple guidelines you will be able to get the most from your cut. There will be a lot to consider, but all of these tips are guaranteed to make life so much easier for you in the long run.

1. Look After Your Hair Firstly, thick hair needs to be looked after properly. A large percentage of guys still don’t invest in a decent shampoo or conditioner, but it’s vital to use high quality products in order to keep your specific hair type in its very best condition.

Using (read: stealing) your girlfriend’s shampoo might seem like a good idea, but if you don’t have fine/coloured hair and that’s the shampoo she uses, it just isn’t going to be beneficial to you.

The majority of shampoos on the market aren’t specific to a single hair type, they simply cleanse and moisturise the scalp whilst promoting healthier hair growth. However, if you are still struggling to find one that meets your requirements, you will find a list of my recommended shampoos and conditioners at the end of this article.

With thick hair it’s important to use conditioner as well as shampoo, even if it’s not used every time. This will help moisturise the hair and scalp and smooth the hair cuticles, giving your hair a healthy appearance and making it all the more manageable.

2. The Right Cut Secondly, choosing the right haircut is extremely important. Be realistic with your choice of hairstyle and think about the amount of time you have to spend styling it every day. The biggest issue guys with thick, wavy hair have is that they expect it to simply fall into place without any work or effort.

When getting your hair cut ask your stylist for tips and advice on how to recreate your style at home. They may suggest using a hairdryer and/or straighteners and they should also go through what products to use. I know some clients just think they are getting a sales pitch off their stylist but you should actually listen to what they have to say – I am certain you will see the results and benefits of using salon quality products on your hair. Going to a supermarket and picking products randomly isn’t going to help you get that pristine salon look at home.

Time is a major factor to consider with thick or wavy hair. Opting for a shorter style will seriously reduce the amount of time you need to spend getting ready in the morning – if this is what you are looking for, or you just feel like a change, the current trend in wavy hair is to keep the back and sides aggressively short, leaving length through the top (see lookbook examples).

I would always suggest paying a bit more for a decent haircut, especially when dealing with thick or unruly hair. This is because you’re not looking for a basic style here – you need someone who really understands how to remove bulk and weight from the hair. You also need a stylist who will give you the confidence and information you need in order to style the cut at home.

Texture & Hair Colouring Texture is key with this type of hair, so a barber who uses clippers for the whole haircut is not going to provide you with what your hair needs to look good.

Other ways of creating texture within a haircut is through colouring. Now, many guys won’t even entertain the thought of having their hair coloured but I’m sure that is because when I mention colour to my male clients they instantly think of having bleach in their hair. I have colour in my hair to create texture – it’s not about being bold, it’s about adding different tones to avoid the hair looking like one solid block colour. This is especially true for dark brown or black hair, which is very difficult to create any form of texture or definition.

There are several ways of applying colour: it can be painted free-hand or placed in foils. I wouldn’t advise going for the old fashioned highlighting cap as this can make the colouring appear slightly chunky and, depending on the length, can sometimes look quite spotty around the hairline as well.

Recommended Products The products you use on thick hair can make or break the style. If your hair is frizzy, try applying a smoothing/straightening balm onto the hair before drying as this will make a huge difference when it comes to styling your hair. If your hair doesn’t need smoothing, I would still recommend applying a product through the hair before drying to stop the hair from becoming too soft and unruly.

Your styling product is your most important consideration. ALWAYS make sure you apply the product onto completely dry hair. If there is any moisture in the hair the product won’t work to its full potential – it will sit on top of the hair instead of in the hair, resulting in a greasier finish.

As your hair is thick, you will need to be prepared to use a decent amount of product. However, start by applying a small amount and work it through the hair, making sure you get right down to the root area – if you still feel you need more, you can re-apply.

Building up your styling product gradually is the best advice I can give you, because there’s nothing worse than spending time on blowdrying your hair and then overloading it with too much product – we have all been in that situation where the only option is to wash it and start again!

With all this in mind, below you will find my recommended products for thick, wavy or unruly hair in a variety of categories. These products are designed to help make your hair more manageable and should hopefully allow you recreate your hairstyle with consistency and ease each and every day.

Here's the link to product recommendations

Final Word

So there you have my guide to dealing with thick, wavy or unruly hair. If there is anything you’re still unsure of, please leave a comment below and don’t be afraid to ask your stylist – they are professionals after all!