What you need to know before changing your hairstyle
Photos Sam Falk / New York Times
Words Matthieu Morge-Zucconi
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Don't be afraid to experiment!
Ask the Expert' is your opportunity to ask us questions. Send them to [email protected] and we’ll do our best to respond to the best ones.
Some men - like London tailor Patrick Grant for example - keep the same hairstyle for their entire lives. Or at least as long as they have hair. While we admire the consistency and desire to maintain a tried-and-tested style, it's not unusual to feel the need for a change sometimes.
When this happens, doing things the right way is key. After all, you wouldn’t want your new haircut or experimental style to be a mistake just because you didn’t do your research, right? To make sure that your new style is a success, we asked our expert hairdresser, Jules Fauvey, to answer 3 questions from the HORACE community (that’s you!) about adopting a new ‘do.
Q: I want to let my hair grow out. I tried in the past, but gave up because the in-between stage was…not a success. How can I keep my hair looking great during this phase?
"Obviously, if you want to grow your hair out, you can't simply start with your usual short style and just let it grow for six months. It's essential to see your barber to maintain the right line and cut to prevent the in-between stage from becoming a nightmare.
Once a month, you head to your barber to tidy up your sideburns - these are often the first signs of a neglected haircut. As with every haircut, particular attention should also be paid to the back of your neck. Top tip: If your hair is neat here, you'll always feel more put-together.
Every three months, ask your barber to trim the ends. This will help your hair to grow more rapidly.”
Is summer a good time to experiment with hairstyles?
"That’s a great question! You're bound to look better in summer than in winter, for many reasons. A healthy sun-kissed glow is a good base to experiment with your hair without too much trouble.
Summer is therefore definitely the best time to try out a new haircut or colour, and it's probably the only time that you can change your hairstyle without much risk. Hopefully you’ll have fewer professional or school commitments, because you'll be on holiday topping up that tan. So my advice is to go for it!”
I've got a new haircut but I'm not sure how to best style it. What should I do?
"Whether you're between haircuts or testing out a new hairstyle, styling can sometimes be challenging, especially if you're not yet used to the cut. There's no one-size-fits-all rule: certain people look better with their hair forward, others with hair swept back, others with their hair to the side. So unfortunately a universal recommendation is impossible to give here.
The simplest solution is to ask your barber what suits you best. Depending on your length and cut, he or she will be able to recommend a hairstyle that perfectly complements your face. Your close friends and family could also help, by giving their opinion on what suits you and what doesn't.”
So, the time for change is now. We can only applaud your daring spirit and wish you good luck. Everything is going to be just fine.”