Welcome to Part 2 of our Summer Hair Guide! As we mentioned in our first post in the series, this summer it’s all about the anti-Mad Men hair. By that, we’re not talking about lack of grooming or styling, but looser, more relaxed hair with less steadfast upkeep. Which is perfect if you’re planning on having an adventurous summer outdoors where your hair may actually have to move. We think of these “messier” versions of classic styles as aesthetically pleasing deconstruction.
Today we’ll be breaking down the pompadour, the signature style of ‘50s and ‘60s rock stars and movie stars like Elvis Presley and James Dean, respectively. And as many of you know, the pomp has seen a massive revival recently by guys into hot rods, antique cars, and rockabilly.
But the pomp is far from casual. In fact, a key component of the hairstyle is the obvious pomade gobbed on top, which can often be a pain to wash out. That’s why we’re happy to welcome this updated pomp to our summer hairstyling routine.
With far more touchability than a traditional pomp and less of a “glued-together” look, the casual pomp is a hairstyle both you and your significant other will approve of.
Read on for the how-to from Hari Efthymiades of Ruffians Barbers (abridged via GQ):
Style: Messy Pomp
What sort of hair/face shape does this work best on?
This haircut works best with fine-to-medium hair and not so well with thick hair, unless the weight is reduced significantly. It’s best with loosely wavy hair, while you would need to straighten curly hair to achieve the look.
As the quiff is quite high on the head, this haircut suits faces which are rounder/squarer. Longer/more oblong faces will further elongate the head, disrupting the balance.
What should you ask your barber for?
Tell your barber the ‘new pompadour’ has the same shape as quiffs and pompadours, but is more messily styled (it’s currently sported by David Beckham).
In terms of the actual cut, make sure you ask your barber to keep the length in your top section, as the fringe needs to be the longest part – enough so it can fall quite far down your face. It’s best to remove a bit of weight here so that it falls nicely when styled back, and the barber must also remove length and weight from the crown so you avoid a lump.
The top section is textured, while the back and sides are kept tight and close to the skin. Your barber shouldn’t be using electric clippers for this cut – it will come across too uniform, and you want a natural look.
How do you style it? What products do you need to maintain it?
Blow dry the hair with a round brush to achieve the shape and volume of the quiff. If you have straighter hair, you can use a vent brush and curl the hair while you’re drying it.
Use a strong-hold product when it’s wet to add volume and work the front section towards crown by curving it around. To make it a ‘new pompadour’ (i.e. more messed up), finish by applying a clay for a matte look or a paste for a slight shine.
Here are our recommendations for casual pomp products:
Shop: 1. Beever No.1 Hair Shaping Paste, 2. Black & White Creative Paste 100g, 3. Brush Strokes Super-Flo Vent Brush, 4. Ceramic Round Boar Bristle Brushes, 5. Modern Pirate Matte Clay Paste.
