Award-winning men’s hairstylist, Jim Shaw, owner of Toni & Guy salon Billericay, shares his thoughts on autumn and winter men’s hair trends.
CUTS& STYLES:
Slick Back – for the dapper man! Slicked back styles look incredibly sophisticated and professional. This style looks particularly great when worn with a haircut that has length on the top and is shorter at the sides, really helping to show off the haircut and giving structure to the hair. Using a hairdryer to slick the hair back off the face is the easiest way to create this look before finishing with a pomade, gel, or wax to help create the shape and hold it in place. You can use a product with a shine for a sleek and shiny finish or a matte product for a more natural finish depending on what the client prefers.
Long Waves – after all the lockdowns many male clients have been experimenting with long hair looks and embracing their long hair and natural textures. Long hair is here to stay and looks particularly great when worn messier for a relaxed finish. If your client has natural curls or waves, use a curl-defining product or salt spray to enhance these and give the style further body and volume. Although long hair may require less regular cuts, it’s important that clients do book in for cuts for their long hair to keep it looking its best, free from split ends and frizz.
Caesar Hair Cut – For male clients who want to ooze style this will be one of the most on-trend haircuts this season. With this look it’s all about the scissor work and ensuring the cut is as precise as possible. I also love the versatility of this look, the client can wear it super sleek and straight for a more sophisticated finish or for day-to-day and quicker styling, this look also looks fantastic when paired with texture. A texturising spray or matt pomade can be applied through the hair with fingers to break up the hair and give it a softer appearance. You can also incorporate some choppy layers into this style for further texture.
Buzz Cut – this is a great look for men who want to show off their facial features and allow them to really pop and for men who want a haircut that’s lower maintenance and requires little to no styling. I love using clippers to create this look and going shorter on the sides to create a gradual fade and to give the look a more on-trend finish.
Side Part – the side part has made a comeback over the past couple of years and it remains on-trend for autumn/winter 2021. The beauty of this style is that it can instantly update your male client’s look and give it a more contemporary finish. It’s also great for those who may want to make their hair appear thicker in appearance, as the style adds volume and height to the hair. I love pairing a side parting with a quiff for a statement look with extra volume.
COLOUR:
Blondes – warm, golden shades of blonde will be huge this autumn/winter and can be worn all over the hair or through highlights to give the hair dimension. Silver and ashier shades of blonde will also be popular and look great on all complexions and on men of all ages, giving them a super trendy ‘cool guy’ look.
Pastels – pastel hair shades are becoming more and more on-trend with men and pinks, in particular, will be one of the most sought-after pastel shades this season. The pink tone can be as bold or as subtle as the client likes and lighter shades of pink are particularly great for blonde-haired clients who want to give their hair a funky update but want something that will wash out easily and won’t be a big commitment
Reds – coppers and mahogany shades will be another huge trend for the new season. These colours come back year after year in autumn/winter and are great shades that work well on all skin tones and hair types. For men who don’t want to go too bold with their red hair, they can give their brunette hair a slight copper tone or they can experiment with copper highlights or flashes of red.