Yes the Summer holiday is nearly, let’s say nearly and stretch it out as long as possible, over and thoughts of returning to work are looming in the dark recesses of all mind. Thoughts of our next holiday, that promotion, a nice pay raise are all popping into our brains, getting us a thinking. Well making those thoughts a reality won’t just happen via osmosis, we have to make them happen ! The first step towards this process is looking the part, so we asked Adam Brady, Grooming Expert with Barber and grooming Brand, Ruffians, to give us some infallible advice to getting the ball rolling.
Soft Side-Parting – Smart and Easy-to-achieve
What’s the cut and how do you get it?
This is a simple short back and sides, which you can ask your barber to do completely with scissors; for shorter, more precise sides, ask for a taper (gradation from shorter to longer). The hair on the top section of your head should a couple of inches long.
How do you style it?
This is the best part – no combs, brushes or hairdryers are needed. Just take a small amount of water-based pomade and a paste and mix them both into your hands. Apply into towel dried hair, from the roots first, and rake through backwards with your hands, creating a parting as you do so. Pat down the sides with the remaining product.
Who does it suit?
This is a great option if you’re looking to smarten up a bit after the summer, but without going through too much hassle and without looking too austere, like many smart looks will do. Try to avoid it if you have a widow’s peak, or receding hair, as this will only make the recession look more prominent.
Facial hair option?
This can look nice and preppy (in a good way!) with a clean shaven face, or some light stubble; perfect for a refreshing new Autumn look.
Products: Ruffians Classic Pomade & Ruffians Styling Paste
Choppy crop – Stylish Sophistication
What’s the cut and how do you get it?
A crop is always the classic way to go – no hard lines, and the length around the head pretty much all the same. So you don’t look too fusty, ask your barber to ‘point cut’ the top section (vertical downward cutting, rather than horizontal), which will decrease the weight which in turn adds texture.
How do you style it?
Again, a very simple styling technique, with no proper tools required. Allow your hair to dry. Take a matt clay, and work it into the roots of your hair. A good one will help to coat the hair’s shaft, which gives the illusion of thicker, textured hair.
Who does it suit?
This is ideal for those who need to relax a little bit, but still look sharp and refined. Also ideal if you have finer hair, as the texture and product can conceal any thinning patches.
Facial hair option?
To add a bit of interest here, you could grow a little beard (if your job allows you to); this can help to add a bit of ‘cool’ to a classic look.
Products: Ruffians Rough Matt Clay and Ruffians Argan Beard Oil
Slick back – Sleek and Streamlined
What’s the cut and how do you get it?
The cut should be a short back and sides and scissored all over – using clippers will make the hair too short, which will end up not being supportive enough for the hair you are slicking back.
How do you style it?
Take a water-based pomade. Rub into your hands evenly, and apply into your hair from the roots and push back. Once the whole head of hair is covered in the pomade, use a fine toothed comb, creating a parting where desired (usually this is best on the side, towards the corner of your forehead). Remember to comb back the sides with the pomade too, otherwise it will fluff out. Allow the product to set before touching it again – and then, if it looks a bit out of place later on, you can always add a bit more water a restyle.
Who does it suit?
As the hair will be pushed back away from your face, this look is good for those with a decent bone structure and less well for those with rounder faces. Perfect for office environments and for those who mean business.
Facial Hair option?
You’ve gotta be clean shaven for the full impact here. Think ‘Patrick Bateman’ – but less of a psycho, of course.
Products: Ruffians Classic Pomade, Ruffians Facial Scrub, Ruffians Sandalwood Shave Gel and Ruffians Facial Moisturiser
Sweep back – Volume and Texture
What’s the cut and how do you get it?
The sweep back is the result of some months of growing out – and perhaps you don’t want to say goodbye to all of your hard work by cutting it all off. Never mind – you can still look smart with this length of hair… after all, Mr. David Gandy consistently makes this look work, and he’s hardly known as scruffy. Make sure that your hair is at least a couple of inches long at the front, so that you can push it back from your forehead, so it rests on the hair at your crown. This should be a totally scissored cut, with added point cut texture.
How do you style it?
Easily. While your hair is still slightly damp, spritz in a Sea Salt Spray, and distribute with your hands. Use a blowdryer, and when almost totally dry, take some paste, rub it over your hands and rake backwards through your hair, from the roots. Scrunch dry to enhance your natural wave, but make sure the silhouette is directed backwards rather than to the side to keep the look smart and in place.
Who does it suit?
This is good for people with a thick head of hair. If you’ve got a rounder face, push the front of the hair up, in order to give the overall shape a bit of height; inversely, if you have a longer face, make the hair a bit flatter to keep the proportions looking good.
Facial Hair option?
How about growing some even stubble, or a short beard? This will give a bit of rugged sophistication to your look, if it’s kept neat and tidy at all times.
Products: L’Oreal Beach Waves and Ruffians Styling Paste
The White Company might be perceived as a woman’s brand, that’s not for men, but all that’s about to change. Borne out of a quandary experienced by its founder Christie Rucker, over twenty one years ago, when she was unable to find well-designed, quality bed linen, principally in white, she established The White Company to make them herself. The brand is known, yes for their womenswear, where they promote a message of style not fashion, quality not quantity and an attention to detail that extends through everything they do. Plus of course, their iconic monochrome packaging and branding.
Note di Colonia II – is inspired by everyone’s favourite aria, ‘Nessun Dorma’ from Puccini’s famous Romance Turandot.
From the dictionary: Groom; Verb – to tend carefully as to person and dress; make neat or tidy.
It began as the faintest murmur, nothing more than a curiosity really, that crept through the backstage areas at a few fashion houses. Some next-gen male models were tired of spending hours primping and preening before big shows. They wanted an easier way and they found it by just showing up, tossing on the clothes and heading for the runway. A few designers took note of this new “look” and decided all their models should adopt the approach, even ordering them not to shower before big shows.
While reasonable people can debate whether in fact male grooming may have stepped off the ledge in recent years with the boom in laser hair removal, Botox, eyebrow tats, pectoral implants and waxed butts, abandoning the neat and tidy altogether doesn’t seem like an entirely rational response. Surely there must be a middle ground where men can be well-groomed without having to lipo their spare tire or Botox every one of their crow’s feet. Here are a few suggestions that may help restore balance to the grooming force: