ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A WHOLE NEW LOOK? THESE RETRO HAIRSTYLES FOR MEN OFFER A FLASH FROM THE PAST WITH MODERN SENSIBILITY.
Hairstyle trends evolve over the years, but from time to time many retro hairstyles come back into fashion again. Let’s take a look at a few retro hairstyles for men that are back in style today.
The crew cut
For a no-frills, low-maintenance haircut, you can’t beat a crew cut. A crew cut can be very short (a buzz cut) or a bit longer (an Ivy League cut). This hairstyle is tapered on the back and sides, and the hair on the top is longer. With a typical crew cut, the hair is longer at the front hairline and then becomes shorter toward the top of the head and back of the crown. With a slightly longer top, this retro hairstyle is a fantastic choice for men with thinning hair on the crown, because it creates the illusion of more hair. Although daily styling is almost nil with this style, you’ll need to get your hair cut often and keep your neck cleaned up. The crew cut takes its name from the hairstyle worn by the Yale rowing crew in the 1890s. It was adopted by the armed forces in World War II and was popular among civilians in the 1950s.
The pompadour
If you don’t mind spending a little more time getting ready in the morning, the pompadour is another retro hairstyle you might like. The pompadour was popularized in the 1950s by actors, rockabilly singers and Elvis Presley. These days, you might identify the modern pompadour with the Jersey Shore cast or even late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien. For men the pompadour is normally cut close around the nape of the neck and ears, then left longer everywhere else. The hair is pushed up and sculpted with a styling product to stay in place. Pomade is generally considered the best choice for styling a pompadour. It might take some experimentation to perfect your pompadour, but it’s a retro hairstyle that can work well for many men.
The Beatles cut
The Beatles (or mop-top) cut was, of course, popularized by the music group on the 1960s. This hairstyle, which is a bob for men, looks best on those with straight hair. With the Beatles hairstyle, the hair is cut straight in the back and is generally about collar length. It is cut over the ears on the sides and features straight bangs that fall just above the eyebrows. If your hair is straight, then the Beatles cut is easy to maintain. You don’t need to use many styling products — just a touch of mousse will do.
The classic taper
A retro hairstyle that is clean and masculine is the classic tapered cut with a side part. This hairstyle is perfect for the office. Because of the popularity of the TV series Mad Men, the character Don Draper has made the classic taper trendy once again. With this style, the hair gets progressively shorter as it approaches the neck. When hair is tapered properly, there is no obvious line or abrupt step where the hair looks noticeably shorter — it’s a smooth progression. With this short haircut, the top should be left long enough to part to the side. This well-groomed look makes a retro style statement when you add a little gel to smooth it into place.
Many retro hairstyles for men are making a comeback. If you find a style that you like, bring a picture or tear-out from a magazine to your salon or barber shop. Your stylist will be able to tell you if the style is suitable for your hair type — and how much time you’ll need to spend maintaining your retro look.