We caught up with award winning men’s hairdresser, Toni & Guy’s Jim Shaw(above) to spill the beans if what hair styles we should be considering ????

With us now out of lockdown, we have noticed a surge in men embracing their longer hair and coming into the salon for a trim or to have their long hair styled rather than a complete revamp with a lot of length being cut off.

For 2021 it’s all about modernizing these longer hairstyles and also informing male clients to be aware of the extra TLC their long hair will require between appointments. Below are my three top modern long hairstyles for 2021 that we will see male client’s requesting in salons and barbershops and hair products we can suggest to clients to keep their long locks looking their very best and healthy at all times in between appointments.

Long curls and enhanced natural textures – embracing the hairs natural texture is going to be very popular this year and we will see a lot of men loving their natural waves and curls. Giving your long haired curly clients a blunt trim will help accentuate the curls and enable them to be more manageable, as well free from frizz and flyaways, which are common with these hair types. To further keep curls and natural waves looking their best at home, smooth and healthy in appearance, styling is key. It’s essential to recommend that curly haired clients in particular use a styling product such as a lotion, serum or light paste and distribute this through their hair with their fingers, giving the curls a more polished look and more body to their hair. This hairstyle also looks great when the curls are brushed out and some texturising product is applied to give the hair softness yet a lot of body and movement.

The modern mullet – the mullet is a hairstyle that is becoming back on trend for both men and woman in 2021. We’ve seen many celebrities sport this look and wearing the mullet more choppy in texture to give it a modern appearance. For 2021 this style looks more contemporary and best when worn a little bit shorter on the top and even shorter on sides but blended together seamlessly. This gives the hair a different texture and allows the client to be able to style theirhair in a number of different ways. The versatility of this haircut is one of the best things about it – the client can wear it slicked back with a gel or serum or they can use a texturising spray or mattifying product to give the style added texture and body. With this hairstyle maintenance is key and it will require regular trips to the salon to keep the fade looking its best. This hairstyle also looks great worn natural, so a great recommendation for clients is to spray some leave in conditioner into their hair and leave to air dry to provide the hair with nourishment and keep the longer section of their hair looking its best and free from split ends.

Bowl cut – the bowl cut is back for 2021 but with a fresh approach – longer and thicker in appearance. This is great for men who love a more retro inspired haircut and who like wearing their hair more sleek and smooth in appearance that natural and textured. This hairstyle is also great for framing the face and showing off facial features and is a particularly good hairstyle for showing off colour if your client likes to opt for bolder and dimensional hair colours. With this haircut it’s important that clients are using a good quality shampoo and conditioner to keep their hair smooth and shiny, as well as regular hair masks to keep split ends at bay and hair free from damage.

Jeffery-West was established back in 1987 and were best known for their quirky rock and roll inspired styles, which is no coincidence their fans include Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller.

Jeffery-West’s Co-founder Guy West has years of fun memories in some of the most legendary UK nightclubs and having lived for almost 18 months mostly in lockdown in our sweatpants, many of us are having big nostalgia for the halcyon days of dressing up with friends, hitting the dance floor (or field!) and having fun! So, in anticipation of nightclubs re-opening, Jeffery-West have launched its ‘Nightclubbing’ collection of six limited styles, paying homage to iconic British nightclubs and club nights from the 50’s to present day. The Blitz, The Saint, The Wag, The Hacienda, The Roxy and The Flamingo all bear the names of the iconic clubs and club nights on the soles.

The 70’s Playboy at Tramp; the Blitz Kid Dandy; the Wag club Soul Boy; the Hacienda Raver, most iconic fashion trends over the past decades have been born on the dance floors of legendary nightclubs.

In fact, whilst listening to the radio during the March 2020 lockdown, Guy heard two popular DJs discussing things they would not miss if they were to disappear when normality resumed. To Guy’s shock their main target was nightclubbing.

Having been inspired by, worked with and had years of fun memories in some of the most legendary nightclubs, these comments astounded Guy.

“I could not believe it! Vehemently disagreeing with them, I started to remember all the fan- tastic times spent in clubs and the incredible people I have met, many of whom have become lifelong friends. With these thoughts in mind, we decided to design an Homage collection for this significant part of our cultural history.”

The job that groomsmen have to do is equally significant just as a bridesmaid’s job. As you are about to step into a new life adventure, you want to have your favorite guys by your side. They will be there to support you, give you a push if you start having cold feet, refresh you with a whisky or two, and undoubtedly follow you in every step of the wedding. Hence, you should treat them with a special gift. Getting a stylish present for your guys is both an easy and hard thing to do, as they aren’t picky but still mindfully look after their looks. Therefore, here are some ideas that could help you find the perfect gift for your mates.

What every single man needs to have is a sophisticated leather belt. No matter if they already own one, a man who keeps a watchful eye on his appearance will always know how to incorporate a good leather belt to make a complete look. You can pre-order a personalized belt for your groomsmen so they could wear it on your big day.

2. A personalized gift box

Fine whisky or wine, man soap, cutter, and buck leather money clip, you name it – and box it! Your friends will be utterly elated once they open a box of goodies containing some of their favorite accessories. If you don’t have an idea what else to put in their personalized gift box, you could check out The Gift Box Factoryand create a fantastic box with cool amenities they’ll surely love.

Even if some of your guys already own a flask, they certainly don’t have a specially engraved one. What makes a flask such good groomsmen present is that they are practical, lightweight, exquisite, and stylish. A flask will surely come in hand, as there’s no better way to help a groom than by handing him secretly his favorite drink and help him ease up the tension on his wedding day. By engraving their names or some of your common remarks, you put a life-long stamp on your friendship.

4. A traditional necktie

If you strive to spruce up the look of your groomsmen on your wedding day, opt to get them a matching color necktie. Not only will they look stunning in the wedding pictures, but they’ll surely be able to reuse the tie on any other formal occasion. Make sure that you give them the tie in advance, so they don’t head off buying one.

Let’s face it, men love knives. But to put funny things aside, a pocket knife is a rather useful gift as it can be used as a corkscrew, plier, saw blade, and bottle opener as well. Every groomsman will drop his jaw when he receives a pocket knife as a gift. If they are travelling back home, tell them only to report the knife at the airport in case it is confiscated.

6. A useful beard grooming kit

If your gang is into thick, glossy, bristly bears, or they are simple into long beards, gifting them with a fine beard grooming kit will leave them speechless. It’s more than crucial for them to look flawless and sharp on the wedding photos, so if you don’t want their beard to go out of control and look yucky, get them a kit that will help keep their facial hair tamed.

Just because they mightn’t use them that often, doesn’t mean it’s not a stylish present. Cuff links symbolize elegance, sophistication, and grace, and if you wish for your friends to give out that notion on your wedding day, cuff links are a good way to go. They might be a little bit costly, but they represent that one gift they will have for a lifetime.

All men love to flip burgers, drink beer and enjoy a football game at the same time. Your groomsmen will know how to use a nice barbecue kit that comes will all the durable tools they’d need for a delicious barbecue party. If you want to get your bros something that both practical, fun, dandy, and which will make them create wonderful memories with friends and family, then this is the ideal present.

Every man must have a practical weekend bag to carry all their essentials if they are either going on a short weekend getaway or if they need to pack their gym accessories. A weekend bag is also something that your groomsmen won’t buy themselves anyway, so you don’t need to worry whether you’ve selected an adequate present.

Another personalized gift that will undoubtedly get a few noteworthy uses. Sometimes men just don’t prefer to carry a bulky leather wallet, but rather go for more practical money clips. You can give them a monogrammed money clip, engraved on each piece the name of your groomsmen, or just engrave their initials, and they’ll certainly be splashing it out on your wedding.

Each present is unique but traditional. There’s no need to spend a fortune on gifts, just keep in mind what your groomsmen preferences are and you won’t make a mistake.

Words by Jimi Williams

With summer finally here (apparently), lockdown restrictions coming to an end (supposedly) and football coming home (definitely) there’s no better time to re-stock your wardrobe with the ultimate essential. T-shirts. Coming in all shapes, sizes and colours, with printed graphics, embroidery, logos or just completely plain, tees are perfect for every weather. So if you’re after an eye catching neon green t-shirt or something a bit more subtle, we’ve got you covered with a round up of the best t-shirts out there right now.

Instagram: @colorfulstandard

First up is Sunray Sportswear. Designed in Newquay, Cornwall and made in Japan, these t-shirts bring a combintion of old school workwear design and retro colours. All their garments are made on antique loopwheel machines in Japan, and each item takes 1.5 hours to manufacture. Making use of recylced cotton and sustainable materials, Sunray’s attention to detail goes further than how they make their product, but where it comes from as well. With short sleeved tees retailing for £60 and long sleeve versions at £80, you dont even have to break the bank to take a piece of Anglo-Japanese cratfmanship home with you.

Next is Uniqlo. The Japanese clothing retailer was founded in 1949 as a textiles company and now has over 1000 stores worldwide. The fast fashion retailer offers mens, womens and childrens clothing and can boast collaborations with the likes of

Jil Sander, JW Anderson and Kaws, as well as offering a Lifewear range and Uniqlo U which is perfect for basics. The Uniqlo U Crew Neck Short Sleeve T-shirt retails for £9.90 and is available in a wide range of colours from black, white and navy all the way to coral, dark green and light purple. Their Airism Oversized T-shirt is sold for £12.90 and is made of their own brand lightweight, breathable fabric; perfect for the summer months.

  A slightly older brand now, Sunspel were founded in England in 1860. With 160 years of British Heritage under their belts, they’ve been making high end products from the finest materials for a century and a half. They use organic, natural and recyclable fabrics where possible and make clothes that are built to last. They say “We have a strong sense of tradition, history and craft, but we do not rely on the past. We use it to shape the future.” Their Cotton Riviera T-shirt is made from two-fold long staple cotton and creates a smooth, durable fabric. Originally designed for Daniel Craig in his role as James Bond in Casino Royale, this T-shirt lets you live out your 007 fantasy without forking out for a DB5. Retailing at £75 it’s a whole lot cheaper than an Aston Martin as well! The T-shirt is available in black, white and navy

Story MFG are a husband and wife team based in India. The brand was born out of a desire for a more kind and authentic approach to fashion, one that doesn’t put consciousness to the back in the name of aesthetic. They use a wide range of natural dyes, recycled fabrics and renewable energies to create their products. These range from fruits, bark and plants all the way to bacteria and even the sun! Processes such as knitting, crocheting and weaving are all done by hand. The Spiral Trip Grateful Tee comes in both short and long sleeved iterations as well being available in natural ecru or dyed with bark. It’s oversized fit and mixture of embroidered and printed motifs make it the perfect statement tee for those who want something a bit different. Short sleeved is £90, whilst the long sleeve version is £105

Colorful Standard is a brand for all those after non-seasonal, sustainable and colourful basics. With a product offering including knitwear, underwear, beanies, shorts, sweatshirts and hoodies as well as t-shirts, the Danish brand is a one stop shop for all your essentials. All the cotton they use is 100% organic, and their extra fine merino wool comes with the Oeko-tex Standard 100 label, guaranteeing a higher level of ethics than required by European law. All products are produced in Portugal in their parent company’s own factories. Their supply chain is so transparent they even include the factory’s address on their website for willing customers to take a look themselves! The Classic Organic Tee is available in 45 different colours. It’s pre-washed, so it wont lose its shape or shrink no matter how many times it’s washed. Retailing for £27, this tee is a bargain for any eco-conscious shopper

CDG Play is a sub brand of Japanese fashion house Comme Des Garcons founded by Rei Kawakubo in Paris in 1973, although the label began in 1969. With a multitude of labels including Homme, Parfums, Wallet, Shirt, Junya Watanabe Comme Des Garcons and the well known collaboration with Converse, CDG has something for everyone. However the Play line is what we’re looking at today. The more streetwear label feautures the infamous heart logo and offers a wide range of tees including breton stripes, polka dots, small and large embroidered and printed logos. Prices range from £50 up to £100. So if you’re feeling a bit more playful with your selection of tees, this is the place for you.

Since 1985 Calvin Klein has kept us Obsessed with has fragrances, bar maybe Chanel, no other fragrance house has managed to produced so many iconic and era defining scents, Obsession, Eternity, Escape, One.

With his latest men’s fragrance Klein invites us to DEFY! The fragrance and campaign embrace a journey of defiance, while exploring authentic truths and the contrasts within us men.

The campaign stars actor of the moment and soon to be a Marvel Eternal, Richard Madden in a series of vulnerable, self-reflecting and defying moments that culminate into a courageous leap of faith, a symbolic metaphor for personal defiance and daring to take risks. The accompanying still visual translates the powerful essence of the campaign featuring Madden seated on a rooftop with a restless stare in Calvin Klein’s iconic jeans and a timeless white t-shirt.

With a daring contrast of invigorating freshness and powerful woods, the fragrance defies expectations and evokes the ethos of the campaign, opening with an addictive blend of citrus highlighted by crisp Bergamot and fresh Lavender Absolute. The heartbeat of the fragrance and star ingredient, Vetiver Oil, is responsibly sourced from Haiti and provides a vibrant earthiness and irresistible rugged texture that compliments a rich and alluring base of Amber notes.

The masculine and woody fresh scent is captured in a modern and minimalist glass bottle carved with curved rounded edges and sharp linear lines, representing the duality of vulnerability and courage on the path to defiance. The cap and carton pay homage to Calvin Klein jeans with a matte textured blue denim inspired embossed finish and striking silver branding.