Maybe I need to update my look. I’ve been told I look like a character from a 1980’s movie. My friend and co-Yackler, Mathieu comments that I have not changed my style in 20 years.
I think people tend to freeze their choices at that period of their life where they’re at their peak, feel like they’re hitting their stride. I grew up on 80’s movies and that’s probably why I still love Oxford shirts and Wayfarers.
Anyway, I stumbled across a press release from the American Beauty College this morning identifying the top men’s hairstyles of 2016. What’s in this year – and what do these haircuts say about your personality? Many men, who would otherwise love to try out these styles themselves, may be battling male-pattern baldness, in which case they may want to try meds like finasteride in order to curtail their hair loss.
The top trend is, “Wavy with High Volume to Buzzed Skin Fades.” That’s where your hair is at least slightly – possibly a lot – longer on the top of your head and gets gradually shorter all the way down to shaved descending the sides.
What this haircut says: This haircut indicates that you are fashion conscious and enjoy keeping up with the latest trends. You tend to make people stay out for one more round of drinks past when they would rather have gone home – but you’re gregarious and fun enough to make it worth the resulting weariness the next day.
The Classic Side Parts are also in again this year. The traditional barber shop haircut, parted on the side, a little longer on the top than the sides is reported to be trendy for 2016. Think of Jon Hamm from Mad Men or George Clooney from anything.
What this look indicates: You are reliable, honest, and can be counted on to come through for your friends in a pinch. You’re more likely than your buddies to vote conservative, but you do it for the right reasons – not wanting to pass on debt to future generations. You like collared shirts.
According the beauty college, the Man Bun is only gaining in popularity this year. I was down in Playa del Carmen last month, kind of a hipster travel destination, and they were everywhere. I kind of thought this trend would be short lived, but apparently we’ll be seeing more and more man buns (the hair style, not their behinds) for at least another season.
What the cut says: As haphazard as the loosely tied hair might look, you’re actually very particular. You choose your décor and fashion carefully, aware that these are a part of your personal brand. You’re casual, but you like to stand out. You likely work in branding, design, or some similarly creative field. You wear Blundstones.
For people with curly or wavy hair, the trend is for something called The Puffy Undercut. This seems to look like the “High Volume to Buzzed Skin Fades” mentioned earlier, except bigger. The Fade just has to be longer on top than the sides, but The Puffy Undercut consists of much longer, piled up hair on top – giving the effect of a modern pompadour.
What it says about you: You like music. You are the first to bring back the latest retro trends and the first to ditch them when the past again becomes passé. You don’t do things by half measures. Often aloof, you’re slow to commit, but once you do, you’re all in and cannot be dissuaded.
For those like me, who haven’t considered changing it up since 1989, here is a helpful article from the styling experts at Avola College: What It Takes For A Man To Change His Hairstyle.