6 classic men's hairstyles

​The French Crop

“The French crop suits most face shapes and is ideal for men going thinner on top. Since you’re taking the hair forward slightly here, leaving length in the fringe, it can help to cover any receding patches.
“It’s a low maintenance, perfect for someone in and out of the gym or swimming pool, as you can wear it without styling product.
“If, however, you do want to use product, try a little hairspray".

slick back

“The modern slick back first made an impact in the 1920s. At the time, it was useful to have a hairstyle that wouldn’t be messed up when wearing a hat (a status symbol and indicator of one’s class around the early 20th century). Since then, it has become a timeless classic.
“Straight hair is best for this – the more curl you have, the harder it is to slick back properly. As for what face shape suits this style, it’s pretty versatile, as it will allow facial features (like beards, moustaches) to be more prominent, with the hair essentially framing the face. Unfortunately, for those with a receding hairline, the slick back look won’t be ideal as it’ll make recession far more prominent.
“The back and sides need to be tapered, natural and fairly tight, with a graduation up to the slightly heavier top. If you’re going for an undercut, there needs to be a disconnection here, but blending would be a better option for finer hair.
“To style, blow-dry the hair back (if you have hair that grows forward, this will take longer) – bear in mind it takes practice to do this effectively. For a traditional slick look, use a water-based pomade and comb through when damp, or try a matte pastefor a softer, more contemporary finish.”

the buzz cut

“The buzz cut is a timeless style. But to really make it work, you need to have a great shaped head [a noggin like Ryan Gosling’s or Christian Bale’s, for example].

“Go for a shape that is slightly square over all [clippered at the sides], with a little more length on the top. Scissor over comb, you can work with the shape of the head to make the overall cut more flattering.

“To style, try a little moulding cream to give your cropped style some finish.”

the pompadour

“The pompadour has been popular in many different lengths and variations since its original debut, on Madame du Pompadour, chief mistress to the French King Louis XV in the 1750s. Initially a feminine style in which all the hair was pinned up onto the top of the head to create height and drama – the style has morphed over hundreds of years into the wearable styles pictured below. A hairstyle with hundreds of years of history? You can’t get more classic than that.
“The pompadour works for most but does require some degree of thickness to the hair so that the style can support itself once created. For example, if you have a narrow face shape, you could wear your pompadour wider and softer, or if you have a round face, it’s worth slicking the hair at the sides of your head right down to slim the overall silhouette. Once nearly dry, use your fingertips, or a round/Denman hairbrush to give the ends some movement, allowing the style to be pushed back on itself.
Add your product to the back and sides before working through the top – remember you can always add a little more in.
“Finally, groom into place [using hairspray for hold] for your chosen finish – whether an Elvis-inspired greaser style or a more James Dean-esque dishevelled take.”

the side parting

“Particularly popular from the 1920s-1940s and again in the 1960s, this style has been revived in the last decade as an easier-to-achieve alternative to the slick back.
“As the basis of the haircut is a simple short back and sides, the style is pretty versatile and will suit most hair types and face shapes.
“The styling product you should use depends on your hair density: those with thicker hair should try a paste, while a matte clay works best for finer, less dense hair types.
“Actually parting the hair can be tricky; the best approach is to put the product in the hair when damp (not wet) and part using a comb. You should try to establish where the natural parting is, perhaps with the help of your barber initially.
“If you’re struggling, comb the hair backwards and you’ll see where it starts to fall and separate. Rub the styling product into your hands, distribute evenly throughout the hair and then apply a setting spray if you’ve got really unruly hair.”

texture and undone

“First things first, you’re going to need a good bit of length in your hair before you schedule a cut for a style like this. Also worth noting is that this textured style works best with thicker rather than fine hair, and if you’re receding, then this isn’t the style for you.
“Guys with double crowns or cows licks should definitely consider the textured look as it’s a style that generally lets your hair lie the way it wants to. It’s best not to battle against these hair quirks.
“When styling a textured look, you need to make sure the hair is pretty dry. Once dry, manipulate a little texture enhancer, clay or putty into the hair with your fingers.