Men's medium hair?
December 29, 2015 7:38 AM Subscribe
Men with medium (ear to chin) length hair - how do you get your locks looking so luxurious?
Basically, how do you go from this to this?
Not a man, but I do have hair.
Intentional styling and lots of product. Also, a good haircut with instructions on how to style it at home. And Jesse Spencer probably has a natural wave to his hair, which helps with the luxuriousness.
posted by cooker girl at 7:59 AM on December 29, 2015
Intentional styling and lots of product. Also, a good haircut with instructions on how to style it at home. And Jesse Spencer probably has a natural wave to his hair, which helps with the luxuriousness.
posted by cooker girl at 7:59 AM on December 29, 2015
How easy this is is going to depend on how thick and wavy your hair is. Thin, straight hair is always going to tend towards the "Shaggy" end of the spectrum naturally and thicker, wavier hair is going to tend towards the "Justin Trudeau" area. Too thick and curly and you are in "Cory Matthews" territory. All of these can be fixed how you want them but how easy that is and how long it lasts depends on your hair.
First, most important thing is cut. Get your hair cut and styled by a professional in a salon (doesn't necessarily have to be an expensive salon, just someone who doesn't do 90% of their haircuts with a trimmer). Show the stylist what you are trying to do and they will be able to talk frankly about whether your hair can do that easily.
Then comes product, the possibilities are endless here almost. Again your stylist will be able to recommend what types of products you should use on your particular hair and can how you how to use them.
Then comes luck. Humid days are not going to require the same steps as dry days. Pretty soon you will realize why girls do spend so much time talking about this and buying products, a lot of trial and error.
posted by magnetsphere at 8:01 AM on December 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
First, most important thing is cut. Get your hair cut and styled by a professional in a salon (doesn't necessarily have to be an expensive salon, just someone who doesn't do 90% of their haircuts with a trimmer). Show the stylist what you are trying to do and they will be able to talk frankly about whether your hair can do that easily.
Then comes product, the possibilities are endless here almost. Again your stylist will be able to recommend what types of products you should use on your particular hair and can how you how to use them.
Then comes luck. Humid days are not going to require the same steps as dry days. Pretty soon you will realize why girls do spend so much time talking about this and buying products, a lot of trial and error.
posted by magnetsphere at 8:01 AM on December 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
Older woman here, who was evidently born without the patience to put crap in my hair (or on my face). Mine is a little longer than the pics, but not by much. I keep a good cut, it's the key to anything. Try a quick shampoo in the shower, no conditioner, and then towel off all the excess water, as much as you can get out. Then bend from the waist and brush your hair upside down, and towel excess water off again. Flip it back up, run your hands through it to style, and that's it. Don't brush it again unless it's too big when it dries. Sometimes I have to do it again about 20 minutes after the first.
Hats and helmets are your enemy.
The best part about this is that you can try it today!
posted by raisingsand at 8:11 AM on December 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
Hats and helmets are your enemy.
The best part about this is that you can try it today!
posted by raisingsand at 8:11 AM on December 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Well, "Shaggy" has an actual shag - notice that his hair is all piece-y and different lengths. Your hair will look thicker and be easier to style when it's mostly the same length, with maybe some very subtle layers at the ends for volume. If you are still growing your hair out, work on getting it toward all one length - explain this to the barber when you get it trimmed so that the barber won't just cut more layers in. You will probably have some unhappy months during this process, as growing out a shag or similar is hell on earth, from a hair standpoint.
What kind of shampoo and conditioner do you use? A lot will depend on if your hair is thick and/or coarse or thin and/or fine (you can have thick fine hair). Does your hair incline to dryness or does it get greasy fast if you don't wash it often? I have had bad luck with "organic" shampoos, personally - most Aveda and co-op products just dry my hair out, although they smell nice. My housemate with thin, curly hair uses various Pantene products and they have worked well when I have...uh....borrowed a little when I'm out of my own. I use shea-based shampoo and conditioner, plus a little leave-in glossing cream.
To slick your hair back, you'll need a good pomade or similar. A tricky aspect: the strongest and glossiest men's pomades make your hair slightly sticky. I hate this and am constantly seeking a middle ground. Products I like:
Both Aveda pomades on this page. My hair is willful and they are not quite strong enough, but they are fairly moisturizing.
The "fiber" pomade from the "Crew" brand at Target - this is the strongest pomade I've found that doesn't actually make my hair sticky to the touch.
John Masters sculpting clay. This adds volume, gives a slightly second-day-hair look and is slightly sticky. It's a weird product but it has a lot of shaping power.
Except on Saturdays, when I usually skip it, I wash and condition my hair daily, towel dry, add a little glossing cream, blow dry (take the time to do this in front of a mirror if you don't already), comb and add pomade. If your hair is thin and fine, you might want to experiment with washing every other day and just dampening it to reactivate the pomade. Or you might want to try a mousse - I have no experience with this, but it seems like thin, fine hair that gets greasy might do better with a mousse every other day than pomade.
A lot will depend on how willful your hair is. Mine does not respond well to hand-styling/air-drying; the hair dryer is essential to subdue it. Don't be afraid of a hair dryer - as your hair gets longer, it will be more helpful. Dry your hair about 4/5 dry, not all the way dry, and you'll avoid the whole blow-dried/TV announcer thing.
posted by Frowner at 8:17 AM on December 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
What kind of shampoo and conditioner do you use? A lot will depend on if your hair is thick and/or coarse or thin and/or fine (you can have thick fine hair). Does your hair incline to dryness or does it get greasy fast if you don't wash it often? I have had bad luck with "organic" shampoos, personally - most Aveda and co-op products just dry my hair out, although they smell nice. My housemate with thin, curly hair uses various Pantene products and they have worked well when I have...uh....borrowed a little when I'm out of my own. I use shea-based shampoo and conditioner, plus a little leave-in glossing cream.
To slick your hair back, you'll need a good pomade or similar. A tricky aspect: the strongest and glossiest men's pomades make your hair slightly sticky. I hate this and am constantly seeking a middle ground. Products I like:
Both Aveda pomades on this page. My hair is willful and they are not quite strong enough, but they are fairly moisturizing.
The "fiber" pomade from the "Crew" brand at Target - this is the strongest pomade I've found that doesn't actually make my hair sticky to the touch.
John Masters sculpting clay. This adds volume, gives a slightly second-day-hair look and is slightly sticky. It's a weird product but it has a lot of shaping power.
Except on Saturdays, when I usually skip it, I wash and condition my hair daily, towel dry, add a little glossing cream, blow dry (take the time to do this in front of a mirror if you don't already), comb and add pomade. If your hair is thin and fine, you might want to experiment with washing every other day and just dampening it to reactivate the pomade. Or you might want to try a mousse - I have no experience with this, but it seems like thin, fine hair that gets greasy might do better with a mousse every other day than pomade.
A lot will depend on how willful your hair is. Mine does not respond well to hand-styling/air-drying; the hair dryer is essential to subdue it. Don't be afraid of a hair dryer - as your hair gets longer, it will be more helpful. Dry your hair about 4/5 dry, not all the way dry, and you'll avoid the whole blow-dried/TV announcer thing.
posted by Frowner at 8:17 AM on December 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
Also, that dude in the second picture? His hair is full of tenth-level styling products and probably feels either really slimy or really crunchy or a bit of both if you touch it. (Maybe you know that - but I did not when I started on my journey toward longer hair.)
posted by Frowner at 8:18 AM on December 29, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 8:18 AM on December 29, 2015 [6 favorites]
ImproviseOrDie hit it on the head. You have to have the right hair texture to look that good.
I (a male) have done short and spikey to man-bun to shoulder-length. I have a very thick head of hair, but it is straight, heavy, and lifeless. When I had long hair, it kind of resembled Tom Petty's hair. (note: Tom Petty has terrible hair).
To have hair like Jesse Spencer in picture 2, you need the right genes. And, you know, a Hollywood salary for a professional stylist on staff. There's only so much you can do.
posted by JimBJ9 at 8:24 AM on December 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
I (a male) have done short and spikey to man-bun to shoulder-length. I have a very thick head of hair, but it is straight, heavy, and lifeless. When I had long hair, it kind of resembled Tom Petty's hair. (note: Tom Petty has terrible hair).
To have hair like Jesse Spencer in picture 2, you need the right genes. And, you know, a Hollywood salary for a professional stylist on staff. There's only so much you can do.
posted by JimBJ9 at 8:24 AM on December 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
It depends on your hair type and haircut. I strongly recommend just going to a good salon with stylists whose fashion sense you like. Talk to them about getting your hair cut right for the look you want, and ask them about products to use, else you're going to do the same trial-and-error every woman deals with.
The guy's got greasy limp hair with flyaways in the first picture. I would recommend:
1. Shampoo and conditioner daily with product meant for daily use with light conditioning, to deal with the greasiness. Conditioner does help tame the flyaways and keep the hair shiny.
2. Hair mousse, light hold with curl enhancer (and/or volume enhancer if you need it). After showering, towel dry your hair, comb it, and squirt a kiwi-sized dollop of the mousse in your palm and work it evenly through your hair.
3. Blow-dry on medium heat and low speed, using your fingers to lift your hair and dry your roots (adds volume), and scrunch to enhance curl. Do not go to 100% dry, just get to 80-90% and let the rest air dry. If your hair comes out crunchy you used too much mousse.
I use a small amount of hair oil to moisturize the ends of my hair and delicately smooth flyaways... but I have thick coarse hair. If you want to try it just use a dime-sized amount.
posted by lizbunny at 8:40 AM on December 29, 2015
The guy's got greasy limp hair with flyaways in the first picture. I would recommend:
1. Shampoo and conditioner daily with product meant for daily use with light conditioning, to deal with the greasiness. Conditioner does help tame the flyaways and keep the hair shiny.
2. Hair mousse, light hold with curl enhancer (and/or volume enhancer if you need it). After showering, towel dry your hair, comb it, and squirt a kiwi-sized dollop of the mousse in your palm and work it evenly through your hair.
3. Blow-dry on medium heat and low speed, using your fingers to lift your hair and dry your roots (adds volume), and scrunch to enhance curl. Do not go to 100% dry, just get to 80-90% and let the rest air dry. If your hair comes out crunchy you used too much mousse.
I use a small amount of hair oil to moisturize the ends of my hair and delicately smooth flyaways... but I have thick coarse hair. If you want to try it just use a dime-sized amount.
posted by lizbunny at 8:40 AM on December 29, 2015
Response by poster: My hair is very thin and straight, I'm aware it's probably never going to look as hollywood as the second picture, but I'd settle for more volume (as opposed to flat down the side of my head) and looking more under control or styled on purpose. Right now I've been hitting it with some moose and style gel, but blow drying it makes it too frizzy, or whatever you call it with individual hairs flying all over. And all the other products Ive tried (admittedly only a couple, probably crappy ones) have either made it look clumpy or entirely too oiled up.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:03 AM on December 29, 2015
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:03 AM on December 29, 2015
I would go to a salon for your next cut - do some online research for a good one. Ask them about how to style it. Don't let them sell you product unless you actually like it. It might be that your hair actually can't look much different than it does, but I surmise that your problem may be with the styling process - it may be not just the choice of product but that there's a better way to apply things, better way to manage your part, etc. What about growing it long enough to pull back? Sometimes a loose, not super-long ponytail works well with thin straight hair. (Too long and it just looks thinner; too tight and it can cling weirdly to the skull; but I know a fellow with long, thin, straight hair who had a loose ponytail for a long time and I felt like it looked good.)
posted by Frowner at 9:19 AM on December 29, 2015
posted by Frowner at 9:19 AM on December 29, 2015
I have similar hair - thin and straight.
Keeping it lightly conditioned helps - we thin-haired people needs much less conditioning than those with thick hair, but some is good. Sometimes I just wash very lightly (maybe every other day). My hair can dry out very quickly - it sounds like yours may as well, if a blow dryer makes your hair frizzy. I think of my hair as having too much "air" and not enough "water", and try to make sure I'm not stripping it - but also not loading it with stuff (the thinness can't hold up).
For volume: My volume has improved with shorter hair, because then the weight isn't pulling it flat. As well, I get more volume by fluffing it up from the roots, while leaving the top smooth. I would suggest using a soft mousse right at the roots of your hair, and by finger styling it to stand up a bit. A male friend with very straight hair swears by "hair fudge" - a styling product that is strong, but feels soft. As well, a well layered cut will give you much more volume (kind of the opposite as for very thick haired people, who use layering to "thin" out their hair).
posted by jb at 9:30 AM on December 29, 2015
Keeping it lightly conditioned helps - we thin-haired people needs much less conditioning than those with thick hair, but some is good. Sometimes I just wash very lightly (maybe every other day). My hair can dry out very quickly - it sounds like yours may as well, if a blow dryer makes your hair frizzy. I think of my hair as having too much "air" and not enough "water", and try to make sure I'm not stripping it - but also not loading it with stuff (the thinness can't hold up).
For volume: My volume has improved with shorter hair, because then the weight isn't pulling it flat. As well, I get more volume by fluffing it up from the roots, while leaving the top smooth. I would suggest using a soft mousse right at the roots of your hair, and by finger styling it to stand up a bit. A male friend with very straight hair swears by "hair fudge" - a styling product that is strong, but feels soft. As well, a well layered cut will give you much more volume (kind of the opposite as for very thick haired people, who use layering to "thin" out their hair).
posted by jb at 9:30 AM on December 29, 2015
Consider taking a multivitamin for men. It's the biotin in the multivitamin that will make your hair look healthier, but while there's no sense in taking biotin just to make your hair look healthier, there may be some sense in taking a multivitamin if you aren't already.
posted by aniola at 9:51 AM on December 29, 2015
posted by aniola at 9:51 AM on December 29, 2015
Fine, thin haired woman here. I recommend keeping it on the shorter side, conditioning only the tips, not the roots, use mousse before you blow dry, blow dry bent at the waist with the hair being dried in the opposite direction it lays (upside down, basically). Nexxus mousse works best for me. I also like kiehls hair products.
Hard water is the worst. Is your water hard? That makes everything more challenging, but may take more drastic measures to remediate.
posted by slateyness at 9:53 AM on December 29, 2015
Hard water is the worst. Is your water hard? That makes everything more challenging, but may take more drastic measures to remediate.
posted by slateyness at 9:53 AM on December 29, 2015
For thin and straight hair, the cut and layering are key, as are the right products. Find a good hairstylist you can talk to, then find a good two-in-one shampoo and conditioner—using straight-up shampoo or shampoo then conditioner can easily leave your hair too dry or too greasy. Blow-drying upside-down is useful to get volume, but then you need to have a plan for how to style from there, using the right product to give you volume, otherwise you'll have that for about five minutes before it falls flat. Guys can get away with more volumizing product than women can, luckily.
posted by limeonaire at 10:29 AM on December 29, 2015
posted by limeonaire at 10:29 AM on December 29, 2015
I used to have longer hair, and it was thick and wavy and just great. Product helped--but what didn't help was shampoo or conditioner. I haven't used either in half a decade. They are a waste and natural oils work wonders.
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 10:45 AM on December 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 10:45 AM on December 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't have a lot to add but your comment about blow drying making your hair frizzy: blow drying is pretty much an art form. There are infinite ways to just dry your hair using a blow dryer, but effectively blow drying your hair requires some skill and technique (and a decent blow dryer). I suggest asking the hairdresser (as opposed to barber) for some blow drying tips/training when next you see him/her.
posted by snap, crackle and pop at 10:58 AM on December 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by snap, crackle and pop at 10:58 AM on December 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
Do not be afraid to go to a women's salon, I will add to the advice above. One of my kids had randomly-grown-out long hair and wanted his hair to look like Foggy's from Daredevil. We took a picture to a salon I was familiar with. My kid has kind of thin, fine, dry hair, and he doesn't bother with any products at all (he's only 11), but a really good cut from someone who knew what she was doing made a really big difference.
posted by not that girl at 11:44 AM on December 29, 2015
posted by not that girl at 11:44 AM on December 29, 2015
Dude, dry shampoo.
I have thin, fine, very straight hair. My kid inherited it, but you wouldn't know by looking, because she increases her volume by using dry shampoo. She also blow dries the roots while brushing with a round brush. Coincidentally, these are precisely the things my stylist does for her similar hair, too (which also looked luxurious to me).
I don't use dry shampoo myself because my current cut doesn't need volume, and besides every styling product ever makes my scalp itch, but I tried it once and the difference is noticeable. Apparently even more so with regular use; I believe my kid uses it every couple of days.
EDIT: The idea is not to replace regular washing, although you'll only need to do it every few days.
posted by sively at 2:01 PM on December 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
I have thin, fine, very straight hair. My kid inherited it, but you wouldn't know by looking, because she increases her volume by using dry shampoo. She also blow dries the roots while brushing with a round brush. Coincidentally, these are precisely the things my stylist does for her similar hair, too (which also looked luxurious to me).
I don't use dry shampoo myself because my current cut doesn't need volume, and besides every styling product ever makes my scalp itch, but I tried it once and the difference is noticeable. Apparently even more so with regular use; I believe my kid uses it every couple of days.
EDIT: The idea is not to replace regular washing, although you'll only need to do it every few days.
posted by sively at 2:01 PM on December 29, 2015 [3 favorites]
Again, not a guy, but... my hair is super thick but one thing that helps it behave is a weekly oil treatment. Basically, once a week, glop on oil (coconut or olive), scalp to roots, leave it on a couple hours, then wash off. It's made a huge difference, at least for me.
posted by Tamanna at 2:22 PM on December 29, 2015
posted by Tamanna at 2:22 PM on December 29, 2015
They will laugh, but try this a few times: Wash your hair in the shower with Irish Spring bar soap. Other brands of soap will also work, but untested. Don't use shampoo. Blow dry while bent over so your hair hangs down. Never use conditioners.
Yes, your genes determine what type of hair you get. I got fine hair too.
posted by nogero at 6:19 PM on December 29, 2015
Yes, your genes determine what type of hair you get. I got fine hair too.
posted by nogero at 6:19 PM on December 29, 2015
Dude here with chest length hair. My hair is not quite at Chase level lusciousness but its big and wavy enough to get complements, so I'm happy enough with it.
I have a natural wave in my hair. If you don't have that you'll need a heated tool of one of several varieties.
I swim a lot, so key to maintenance is ditching all the chlorine ASAP after the pool. I use a special shampoo for that.
Other than that its all down to the right shampoo and conditioner (for some folks shampooless works well, not for me though, cf. Chlorine damage). I use this raw probiotic shampoo and conditioner made from soap nuts, but there're plenty of good options out there if you aren't too worried about buying "lady shampoo."
You'll also want to experiment with washing tempo. For me, about twice to thrice a week I shampoo and condition -- for you, maybe more often or less often.
Also seconding going to a "woman's" stylist (basically anyone who has thought bout long hair). They usually can get you dialed in with product and so on.
I can wear my hair pretty flat, or with some blowdryer and product (salt spray, mostly) I can wear it like the drummer in Hanoi Rocks. I bet you can too!
posted by Matt Oneiros at 8:14 AM on December 30, 2015
I have a natural wave in my hair. If you don't have that you'll need a heated tool of one of several varieties.
I swim a lot, so key to maintenance is ditching all the chlorine ASAP after the pool. I use a special shampoo for that.
Other than that its all down to the right shampoo and conditioner (for some folks shampooless works well, not for me though, cf. Chlorine damage). I use this raw probiotic shampoo and conditioner made from soap nuts, but there're plenty of good options out there if you aren't too worried about buying "lady shampoo."
You'll also want to experiment with washing tempo. For me, about twice to thrice a week I shampoo and condition -- for you, maybe more often or less often.
Also seconding going to a "woman's" stylist (basically anyone who has thought bout long hair). They usually can get you dialed in with product and so on.
I can wear my hair pretty flat, or with some blowdryer and product (salt spray, mostly) I can wear it like the drummer in Hanoi Rocks. I bet you can too!
posted by Matt Oneiros at 8:14 AM on December 30, 2015
"I'd settle for more volume"
And I'd settle for a million bucks!
Seriously, volume is the holy grail that all women's hair product commercials are promising. Everyone wants it. Genes are the most effective way to achieve volume. Some hair types can never achieve it no matter what. I have very fine hair, but a lot of it. When it's long and all one length, it looks thin and low volume. When it's long and layered (long layers, not Shaggy's short layers), it can look huge.
If you weren't born with lots of volume, you're stuck creating an illusion of volume. For fine hair, two things often work: 1) layers, as above, and 2) dirty hair. Dirty fine hair usually has more volume than squeaky clean fine hair. This is where the dry shampoo and hair paste suggestions will help you.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 3:33 AM on January 1, 2016
And I'd settle for a million bucks!
Seriously, volume is the holy grail that all women's hair product commercials are promising. Everyone wants it. Genes are the most effective way to achieve volume. Some hair types can never achieve it no matter what. I have very fine hair, but a lot of it. When it's long and all one length, it looks thin and low volume. When it's long and layered (long layers, not Shaggy's short layers), it can look huge.
If you weren't born with lots of volume, you're stuck creating an illusion of volume. For fine hair, two things often work: 1) layers, as above, and 2) dirty hair. Dirty fine hair usually has more volume than squeaky clean fine hair. This is where the dry shampoo and hair paste suggestions will help you.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 3:33 AM on January 1, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
However, here's what can help if you have thin and/or fine hair: Dry shampoo, hair paste, and styling lotion. You probably can't get the second look just by air drying. You'll have to apply product and use a hair dryer, and probably a brush or two, possibly a round brush. Scrunching with your fingers during drying can also help.
The first photo (again, if it's not a wig) has clearly air dried with product that leaves it looking crunchy and wet. This is the worst thing you can do if you have thin or fine hair. The second photo may feature air dried hair, but if so, that guy has really hit the genetic hair lottery. Chances are he blow dried it.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 7:57 AM on December 29, 2015 [3 favorites]