How to master Brad Pitt’s Hollywood sweep haircut

Brad Pitt’s doing it, so is la Chalamet – hell, even Ansel Elgort, he of nail-varnish-gate, is getting in on the action. So here’s why you too should be wearing your hair long, pulled back and silver-screen ready this summer

What would men’s magazines have done for the past year or so, I wonder, without the re-emergence of Brad Pitt as the style icon he was back in his 1990s heyday? From the chisel-jawed one’s gilded turn in Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood last year to his more recent Brioni tux-clad series of red carpet appearances, Pitt has proved beyond any doubt that style and sex appeal don’t go anywhere after 50.

One of the key areas in which Pitt excels is with his hair. Though recent years have seen the actor opt for darker hues and shorter cuts, his most recent honeyed slick-back is not only incredibly complimentary to both his bone structure and his skin tone, but it’s also a look that speaks of a certain glamour only Hollywood can truly muster, and it goes as well with a tux as it does with a beaten-up band tee and jeans, as Pitt so deftly proved in OUTH.

Pitt’s red carpet train chasers Ansel Elgort and Timothée Chalamet have also tried the cut out recently, both with equal levels of success. Here, our resident barber Joe Mills explains how to get the look yourself.

The styling guide

1. Who does it suit? This cut suits medium to thick hair, ideally with a slight wave. You need to have a good four to six inches of hair on the top, and it should be left heavy, with a little texture added.

2. How should I have it cut? The back and sides should be a good three inches in length, which will allow it to be swept back. Texture needs to be added here too, so that your hair has some movement and doesn’t look too “Lego-head”. Ask your barber for a longer, classic layered cut with some texture and no hard lines around the back and sides.

3. How do I style it? Ideally, you’ll need to get the hairdryer out for this. Use a texture spray when your hair is freshly shampooed, then blow dry the hair back from your face using a vent brush. When it’s almost dry, apply a styling cream that will give it enough hold but will allow you to still be able to run your fingers through it.

The products you need

1. A lightweight, non-aerosol volumizing spray - spray on damp hair before blow-drying.

2. A light cream pomade for all hair types - apply to damp hair for a wet-look finish, or dry for a more natural, matte style.

3. A Vent Brush - like this one by Denman

4. A Hair Dryer (I have some recommendations for you here)
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This hairstyle recommendation is from GQ