Which hairstyles are hot? Tidy up with a quick shave
If you’re thinking of trying out a new hairstyle, it’s often a good idea to ask your barber for some help in choosing a style that suits you. Maybe you’ve already got a style in mind – if so, why not bring in a picture of the style you’d like to try?
One of the most popular styles du jour is the smart short back and sides favored by Ryan Gosling in the film Drive. The look oozes classic Hollywood style but is still a bit rough around the edges. Okay – that’s your hair sorted.
What about your facial hair?
Choosing a style to wear on your face can be a bit harder, especially if you’ve never experimented much in the past. So here are a few tips on how to choose a style that suits your features from beard and mustache expert Dr Allan Peterkin*.
The right style should complement your face
“When choosing a facial hairstyle, consider the size of your facial features. If a man has a large nose, a pencil-thin mustache will look like a hairy mistake instead of a style statement. Similarly, a man with a tiny nose should avoid a big, bushy ‘stache – which will make his nose look even smaller in comparison. The right style should complement your face without overpowering it or being overpowered by it. Here are some general guidelines:
If you’ve got large facial features (mouth, nose, eyes, and chin), go for a larger, bushier mustache or beard style. It will balance out your facial features and provide a softer look.
If you have a prominent nose, consider a larger, thicker mustache such as a Chevron, Painter’s Brush or Handlebar, but steer clear of thinner designs.
A long, narrow face requires a narrow-to-medium-sized mustache that’s not too heavy in length or design. Stick to shorter styles and skinnier lines, such as the Clark Gable, Chaplin, or Military mustaches. Stay away from styles with vertical lines – such as the Horseshoe – that will only accentuate the length of your face.
If you’ve got an extra large mouth, choose an angular style such as the Pyramid mustache that’s narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. The variety in length and angles will minimize the size of your mouth.
Don’t overpower a smallish mouth with a big, bushy mustache. Instead, go for a shorter style. Growing the ‘stache a little past the corners of your mouth will make your mouth appear a bit larger.
If you’ve got a wide mouth with a big upper lip, consider a large, bushy mustache with a parting that divides the mustache into two sections.”
After carefully trimming the outline of whichever beard or mustache style you pick, it’s likely that you’ll need to shave the rest of your face. So why not finish off giving yourself a new look by shaving in a new way?
Shave in the shower with Philips AquaTouch
One way to freshen up your shaving routine is to do it in the shower. New shavers such as the Philips AquaTouch have a specially designed Aquatec seal that mean they can be used both in the shower and as a normal dry shaver. This means you get the closeness of your normal shave but with the added convenience of choosing where you do it. And your new style will be accompanied by a fresh, clean you.
*Reprinted with permission from the book The Bearded Gentleman: The Style Guide to Shaving Face by Allan Peterkin and Nick Burns (Arsenal Pulp Press)
Choosing a facial hair style that fits your face
The great thing about the abundance of hair on the male form is that there are so many ways to alter the way you look. This might mean a change of hairstyle, new facial hair or, ahem, simply sprucing up your undercarriage.