Men’s Long Hair

As male hair trends go, long hair has always been a bit hit and miss. It used to be reserved for boho types; worn in dreads or left unwashed for days in order to portray a ‘free’ festival going lifestyle. Not forgetting the Warhammer playing behemoth who believes he lives in a fantasy world of long haired and bearded warlords… well, you get the picture.
We guys find it hard to “do” long hair, what with all the washing, combing and drying, it’s torture. And please, as I have said before, no ponytails! (With one exception, which I will go into later.)
This is obviously a trend that won’t be easy for many to take on, especially if you are cultivating one of the various shorter styles that are currently strong within the industry. This predicted trend also shouldn’t be confused with the surfer look or the overdone and seriously outdated “Mod-for-it” Gallagher style. This new long length is groomed, clean and worn to portray a defined image of an informed wearer. When teamed with some carefully created facial ornamentation, you can forget hippy – this is 19th century gothic for the contemporary and cosmopolitan gent.

If growing your hair fills you with fear, or even just fear of the unknown for those of you who have never experienced hair length longer than the top of your collar, the read on. With some patience, careful up-keep with the right products and regular haircuts – yes, that’s right, I did utter regular haircuts – you can avoid the hobo look and look like you stepped straight off the catwalk.
Finally, growing your hair needn’t be six months of unstylish struggle, it’s possible to create a variety of different looks whilst cultivating the length. There are just a few things to steer clear of in the process, so make sure you read my check list below in order to avoid car crash hair.

Long For Life, Get It Right

1. When you start getting a bit of length, don’t be tempted to get a square line cut at the bottom (anywhere between the earlobe or jawline), unless you are lucky enough to have chiseled features and don’t possess jowls of a gerbil.
2. Have your hairdresser soften the edge of the length and wear the front and side pushed gently away from the face in a side or middle parting.
3. This long hair trend is just that, long hair, so stay away from elaborate layers and chopped up texture. Keep it simple, go for length and definitely no fringes. 
4. Try and keep a balance between the front, sides and back, so there are no extreme differences in length. We are not aiming for a mullet.
5. Although you will need some kind of finishing product, don’t overload the hair. Use just enough for control and to softly define the natural texture.