Men's Medium Messy Hair Tutorial: How to Maintain and Style

Call it a Mod cut, a shag, a mop top, or just bangs—medium-length, pushed-forward hair is gaining popularity yet again. Douglas Booth (above), Ben Whishaw, and Owen Wilson have all worn it, and these tips will have you primed for the style too.

Requirements for Messy Medium Hair

• Hair should be shorter on the sides (a #1 or #1-1/2 clipper length), with a medium high fade before the top of the head.

• The length of hair up top should be shorter in the back (2 or 3 inches) and get longer toward the hairline in the front.

• Bangs at the forehead should be cut evenly across, and usually long enough so that they fall just above the eyebrow.

• The barber or stylist should work in lots of texture here using point cutting techniques—the more weight that’s taken out of the hair, the more movement the cut will have.

How to Style Messy Medium Hair

1. Start with clean, towel-dried hair.

2. Use a blow dryer on a high-heat setting to achieve the shape you want.

3. Take a small amount of high-hold pomade or clay and work it into the back of the hair, moving forward (target the roots of the hair for maximum control).

You want it to look a little disheveled—and not too precious—when you’re finished.

From Birchbox.com