Men’s Haircuts ~ Guest Post by Sophia Jackson

How the Entertainment World Is Influencing Men’s Haircuts

Looking to switch up your look but still seeking inspiration? Today, it’s time to turn the spotlight on the guys! Here, we’re going to discuss some of the men’s hairstyles that are shaking up the entertainment industry today. Whether they’re brand new or modern twists on classic throwbacks, if you look to the stars, you’re sure to find a look you love!

The Entertainment Industry’s Influence on Fashion Trends

When it comes to onscreen fashion trends, does art imitate life or vice versa? The way that film and television impact our culture cannot be understated, and the entertainment industry’s influence on the popularity of certain hairstyles is no exception.
While people can often name a dozen iconic women’s hairstyles from TV and film right off the bat (Farah Fawcett’s feathered beach blonde waves in the seventies hit Charlie’s Angels, for example, or Jennifer Aniston’s famous haircut on Friends), men’s haircuts tend to receive less attention from the general public.
However, that doesn’t mean that men aren’t looking to the entertainment industry for fashion advice. The following haircuts started out on screen, but they have proven quite popular in day-to-day life.


David Beckham’s Faux-Hawk Makes a Comeback

David Beckham may not be an actor, but you’d be mistaken to say he was never a TV star as one of the most popular soccer players of all time. His marriage to Victoria, who, at the time went by Posh Spice, further cemented his status as a celebrity persona.
Now, you may have read the words “faux-hawk” and immediately been triggered by memories of geeky haircuts of the early 2000’s. However, David Beckham continues to be a sex symbol, so his haircut has been imitated and evolved to the present day. Zayn Malik updated the look by increasing volume while closely cropping in the sides, which remains a popular trend.


Cillian Murphy’s Peaky Blinders Haircut

Peaky Blinders, a gritty period gangster drama that takes place on the streets of Birmingham, England in the 1920s, stars Cillian Murphy as Thomas Shelby, sporting a very distinctive haircut. Although Murphy himself reportedly doesn’t see what all the fuss is about, it’s become one of the most popular men’s haircuts of 2017.
What’s so distinctive about the look? The undercut sides and textured length on top look ultra-contemporary, but they are, in fact, correct for the 1920’s. Contemporary and vintage at the same time, the look achieves a certain timelessness that other haircuts can’t quite capture.


Donald Glover’s Soft Afro

A talented actor, comedian and rapper, Glover isn’t afraid to keep his hair uncropped. You came to love him in comedies like Community and as the rapper Childish Gambino. His newest TV series, Atlanta, has received praise from the critics and numerous awards, including two Golden Globes and two Primetime Emmys. Glover’s style and signature haircut suggests a relaxed art school chic.

 


Will Smith’s High-Top Fade

The 90s are back with a vengeance, and one haircut in particular is resurging in a big way. Will Smith may have played a loveable goofball on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but his haircut left a lasting impact on contemporary hair-styling. The high-top fade, characterized by the tight undercut around the sides of the head and sculpted height with a flat top, has seen many reiterations in the past few years. Will Smith paired his haircut with loud colors and funky prints, but the effect of the high-top fade changes entirely when paired with muted tones and textures. In 2017, the look has become entirely sleek and contemporary.


Mahershala Ali’s Sculpted Fade from Moonlight

The 2016 coming of age drama Moonlight brought tears to its audiences’ eyes, but it may also have inspired a new way to wear a fade. Mahershala Ali played Juan, a Cuban drug-dealer who helps guide the protagonist Chiron through his formative years in Miami. Ali’s hair is a tight fade on the sides with a little bit of height on the top. The look is subtler than the high-top fade, but combined with confidence, it can give its wearer an air of sophistication.


Dev Patel’s Loose Curls

While Patel was significantly younger when he starred in the award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, he has updated his look considerably with his most recent feature, Lion. Patel now wears his hair in longer, loose waves around his face, and, while the look seems effortless, pomade or styling cream is essential to avoid a puffy shape.
In a decade where close crops seem to be very in style, Patel’s looser look, paired with facial hair, comes together for a playful but mature appearance.


The James Dean Effortless Slick-Back

Of course, any list citing iconic men’s haircuts would be remiss not to mention James Dean’s slick but wild pompadour in Rebel Without a Cause. This hairstyle has never gone out of fashion. When he played Edward in the teen hit franchise Twilight, Robert Pattinson sported a modern take on the style.
This look keeps the volume with a medium length on top with shorted sides for contrast. The classic style is always in fashion, but you will need some pomade and a hairdryer to style it to perfection.
Conclusion: From close crops to unkempt waves, there is no shortage of contemporary and vintage looks for the modern man. With the right haircut, you’ll feel confident and perfectly coiffed in every endeavor.

EYEBROW TREND ~ GUEST POST BY JORDON KLEE

What is This Braided Eyebrow Trend?!

There’s always something trending in the beauty world. Usually, it’s something no one else actually wears in real life. Instagram has recently bestowed us with another trend that has us scratching our heads — the braided eyebrow. Thanks to a viral post by a California teen, Instagrammers around the globe have been hopping on this new trend that takes their brow game to new heights, literally.

The First Braided Eyebrow

Eros Gomez, a 17-year-old from California, is the name behind the wacky new eyebrow style. While most people had just gotten comfortable enough to fill in their brows, Gomez took things to the next level by posting a braided shot of his eyebrow on Instagram. Only it’s not what you think.

The photo that launched a new trend is actually Photoshopped. Speaking with “Allure” magazine, Gomez revealed that after many products and failed attempts to actually braid his eyebrows, he decided to just take a picture and edit the braid in on Photoshop. Of course, the idea itself wasn’t completely disingenuous. He reveals in the same article that he was inspired by “brow chains”, which are necklaces adhered to eyebrows. Gomez says that he knew people would be trying to braid their brows eventually and he wanted to be the first.

The Eyebrow Craze of 2018

The braided eyebrow is just one perplexing and daring look that’s graced foreheads this year; before, there was the wavy brow, and then the squiggy brow. Now, people have begun styling what is known as the “halo brow”. With a circular formation that (sort of) frames the eyes and draws focus to the forehead, the halo brow look are sweeping Instagram by storm and leaving some enamored and others just downright exhausted.

Can’t eyebrows just be eyebrows? Tweezed, full, au natural — we see you. But it’s hard to imagine seeing an actual person at school or work with their eyebrows literally defying gravity and wrapped around their forehead.

Don’t get us wrong, though. We commend these bold beauty fans for their creativity. It’s difficult to stand out online nowadays since we’ve seen just about everything. The new eyebrow styles and trends springing up across social media are just evidence that with enough time on your hands, some highlighter and a good photo editor, anyone can transform their everyday look into an eye-catching (pun intended) new craze that encourages others to express themselves and try new things.

Image source: https://www.allure.com/story/braided-brows


Jordan is the beauty and brains behind Beautifully Alive! She loves eating healthy and trying new recipes.The self-proclaimed Zumba Queen has a passion for beauty products and loves reading new books. She’s always down for a DIY project!

Going Bald by Choice and the Truth About Shaving My Head to Make My Hair Grow Thicker ~ Guest Post by Lee Walters

Here’s one for the guys, some interesting information from our guest blogger – Lee Walters from thehaircentral.com ~ Enjoy!

Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness is a condition that affects so many men, it seems odd that some men would choose to go bald in spite of the fact that they are blessed with great hair. Some would say it is downright insulting to men who have the male pattern baldness gene for one to go bald by choice. But the facts tell a very different story.

Even though men dread going bald as though it is a terminal disease, the fact is that bald men are actually perceived as being stronger, more assertive and sometimes even taller than their follically blessed counterparts.

A Study Conduct by Experts 

In one study, a group of researchers from Barry University in Florida wanted to know why the gene that triggered male pattern baldness continued to survive through the generations even though it seemed to have a negative perception in society. If it indeed has a negative effect on social interaction, then the gene should have eventually died out.

One of the researchers, Dr. Frank Muscarella speculated that male pattern baldness evolved as a way to signal dominance without being perceived as a threat. In this study, participants were asked to rate a group of men on four independent scales – physical attractiveness, aggressiveness, appeasement, and social maturity.

The results showed that bald men rated the highest in social maturity and appeasement or diplomacy, and they rated the lowest in aggressiveness. In the metric of physical attractiveness, they rated lower than men with good hair but higher than men with receding hairlines. These results confirm Dr. Muscarella’s initial speculation about bald men being more dominant, at least in perception.

The fact that bald men appear to be less physically attractive than men with good hair does not actually affect their success with women. It is a well-known fact that women do like physically attractive men, but they are equally attracted to men who display social dominance and maturity.

With these facts in mind, it does not seem to be all that strange to shave one’s head despite the absence of male pattern baldness. After all, hair is not the only thing factor that contributes to physical attractiveness.

Going bald is actually a great strategy for those of us who are not blessed with other attractive features like high cheekbones or square jaws. So whether or not you have male pattern baldness, we suggest you give it a shot and see how it works for you. If you have male pattern baldness, then no one will know because you already shaved your head.

And if you don’t have male pattern baldness and don’t like the way you look with a cleanly shaven scalp, then you can always grow it back. However, we think you just might surprise yourself if you take the plunge. If you need advice on shaving your head for the first time, just head over to Lee Walter’s blog (https://thehaircentral.com/best-razor-for-shaving-head/) to see some options for the best razors to shave your head bald.

Making Your Hair Grow Thicker

If you do decide to shave your head, then you may hear a lot of myths associated with it, the most common one being that if you shave your head, your hair will grow back thicker.

First off, we would like to point out that since this article is aimed at men who do not have male pattern baldness, this would hardly be a bad thing. If you find that you don’t like a cleanly shaven scalp, then you would simply let it grow back at twice the thickness!

Unfortunately, this has been proven to be a myth by several scientific studies. You can even think about it logically – if shaving one’s head caused the hair to grow back thicker, wouldn’t that make it the number one treatment for male pattern baldness?

The reason this myth exists is due to the nature of hair growth. The hair that is visible above the surface of the skin is actually a string of dead cells. The live part of the hair is actually underneath the skin and is known as the “follicle”.

Unshaved hair tapers at the end. Shaving cuts the hair off just above the surface of the skin, leaving the follicle intact. When the hair regrows, it initially appears to be thicker because of the straight cut created by the razor. The taper takes time to reappear. There are other reasons that affect this perception as well. Unshaved hair has not yet been exposed to sunlight and other chemicals that may be floating in the air. These exposures do contribute to the appearance of one’s hair. Diet and medication are also factors that play a part in the apparent thinness or thickness of one’s hair.

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Bruce Willis                                                   Vin Diesel
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Jason Statham                                               Dwayne Johnson

Whether you enjoy the shaving experience or just want to get rid of all that hair as soon as possible, we have covered it all so that you don’t have to waste time sifting through tens of thousands of Google results.

Just roll the ATX All-Terrain Razor from HeadBlade over your scalp for a quick and comfortable shave, or use a Merkur safety razor for the closest shave possible. Even if you are not keen on investing in the best tools, you can achieve the rugged look of stars like Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson with the cheapest shaving foam and triple blade razor. After all, there is a reason that the Gillette Mach 3 is so popular – because it really works!

So what are you waiting for? Get rid of all that pesky hair, put your chrome dome on display, and go out and turn some heads!

Best Hair Tips From Around the World by Mia Taylor

Thanks to Mia for this wonderful guest post, read on for the Best Hair Tips from around the world..

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What does it take for a girl to have great hair every day? Apparently, the answer to this question is a matter of national consensus. For ladies from Morocco, the secret to glossy tresses is soaked in argan oil; for Aussie girls, it’s up in the eucalyptus tree; for Asian belles, a shiny mane’s made of equal parts camellia oil and rice water. Are your tresses hungry for more of ethnic-based hair care tips from around the world? Then you’d better scroll down for more of the shiny lock love!

The Asian trick: Camellia oil

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Ladies from Japan, China, and Korea are well-acquainted with the hair care power of camellia oil and they use it regularly to preserve the healthy shine of their tresses. A go-to for essential fatty acids and vitamins A, B, C, and E, camellia oil is a potent scalp conditioner that promotes healthy hair growth and helps restore color to gray strands. For even more beautiful hair, shampoo your hair with rice water: it will gently eliminate impurities and nourish your locks at the same time.

Moroccan spells: Argan oil

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One more nourishing oil that’s been helping Moroccan girls achieve and preserve hair shine over the past few centuries, argan oil recently gained worldwide popularity as one of the most potent hair care product ingredients. Made from the kernel of the argan tree, argan oil moisturizes hair and helps restore volume and shine to worn and thinning tresses. These days, argan oil is found in most organic hair conditioners and masks.

African beauty: Black soap

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A West African hair care secret, black soap is made from palm and coconut oil mixed with cocoa pods, cocoa pod ash, and plantain skins (the latter give the soap its dark hue). A natural cleanser that can do wonders for skin texture, a lump of black soap will gently flush impurities from your hair without over-drying the follicles or stripping your scalp of its natural oils.

Do as Egyptians do: Henna

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If you’re into red hair, you might as well ditch commercial dye for henna. The time-honored Egyptian beauty trick, henna has been used for millennia to make natural hair dye and lip tint. In addition to preventing hair damage through exposure to hazardous chemicals found in most synthetic dyes, henna will help worn tresses restore their healthy sheen and thickness. If you want to be a redhead whose locks turn heads in the crowd, it’s time to switch to Henna.

America’s favorite: Yucca

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Back when America was still young, squaws had beautiful, waist-long hair; today, ladies around the world know the secret to the captivating look of native American strands. Native American women used yucca leaves to counter dandruff and hair loss and you can, too. To get the biggest shine out of your hair, you can try adding efficient hair vitamins to your carte du jour, and your strands will always look their best.

Smooth as Aussie: Eucalyptus

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If you think only koalas are into minty zest, you’re barking up the wrong eucalyptus tree. In the Land Down under, girls have been using eucalyptus to fight dandruff and scalp inflammation for centuries now. A powerful ingredient found in many commercial shampoos today, eucalyptus is known to strengthen fragile tresses and promote hair growth, which makes it perfect for ladies who want to take the look of their locks to a whole new level.

Filipina hair trick: Aloe vera

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Filipina girls are famous for their voluminous, glossy dark hair, but although they may have been born that way, their locks wouldn’t stay so gorgeous without a secret formula in the mix. To help their hair stay strong and shiny, ladies in the Philippines nourish their tresses and scalp with aloe vera. Rick in hair-friendly nutrients, aloe vera calms scalp irritation and keeps dandruff at bay. If you want your locks to stay silky and strong, start using an aloe-based conditioner.

Ready to take your hair from dead-looking to drop-dead gorgeous? Use the right hair care tricks from around the world, and your mane will always look like a million dollars.   

 

Screen Shot 2017-05-28 at 3.15.17 PMMia Taylor is a fashion and beauty enthusiast from Sydney and writer for www.highstylife.com. She loves writing about her life experiences. Travelling and enjoying other cultures and their food with her husband is a big part of her life. She is always on a lookout for new trends in fashion and beauty, and considers herself an expert when it comes to lifestyle tips.
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Guest Post ~ DIY Hair Mask by Louisa Rose

DIY Hair Mask Recipe

My natural hair mask recipe is the perfect way to give your hair a boost and enhance its shine. It contains plenty of protein and a variety of hair-loving nutrients which help strengthen your locks and encourage new hair growth.

Infusing your hair and scalp with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can also repair dryness and styling damage, encourage healthy roots and add volume. If you’d like to read more about the best volumizing shampoos and how they work, check out my recent post.

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Avocado

Using avocado in hair mask can improve shine, repair dry, damaged hair and help protect your locks from styling and environmental damage. It contains a rich source of amino acids, protein, vitamins and minerals which are easily absorbed by your hair and scalp.

You’ll be amazed how shiny and soft your hair feels after applying some avocado, so instead of letting that inevitable half piece of avo go off in the fridge, save it for this DIY mask.

Banana

As protein is the main component in your hair, it needs plenty of it to stay strong and healthy. A nutrient deficiency and styling damage and can cause a loss of protein, and make your strands feel dry and brittle.

Bananas offer a healthy dose of protein, potassium, Vitamins B6 and C, folate, and a variety of minerals to help strengthen, repair and thicken your hair. It’s an ideal natural ingredient to prevent split ends and breakages, and helps protect your hair’s natural elasticity.

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Coconut Milk

Coconut milk contains healthy saturated fats which nourish hair and encourage longer, thicker, shinier locks. It has excellent moisturizing properties and is a great way to revive dry hair which feels brittle and prone to split ends.

Similar to coconut oil, coconut milk has natural antifungal and antibacterial properties which can help fight dandruff and provides a cooling sensation on your scalp. It also soothes irritated skin and can help fight minor skin infections.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of the best multitasking beauty products nature has to offer. Using it in your hair can help repair split ends, increase shine, reduce frizz, detangle and moisturize.

It contains medium chain fatty acids which penetrate the hair shaft more deeply than traditional conditioners, as well as lauric acid which helps strengthen and encourage new hair growth.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is a natural emollient with softening qualities that help improve shine, body, and resilience. Using just a tablespoon can protect the keratin in your hair and seal in moisture to keep your strands strong and healthy.

Massaging olive oil into your scalp can remove a buildup of sebum to promote new hair follicles and encourage hair growth, and also softens stubborn dandruff flakes so they’re easier to get rid of when you wash your hair.

Ingredients

– ½ Avocado

– ½ Banana

– 50 ml Coconut Milk

– 2 tbsp Coconut Oil

– 1 tbsp Olive Oil

Method

Blend all the ingredients together to make a smooth paste.

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Apply the mixture all over your hair and smooth it down to the ends. Massage your scalp for a few minutes to exfoliate your skin and improve blood circulation.

Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. I like to relax in the tub with a book, as it saves cleaning up any mess.

When you’re ready, wash your hair with a gentle shampoo and rinse thoroughly. You can use your normal conditioner if you feel you need it, then dry and style your hair as usual.

It should feel wonderfully smooth and shiny and look healthier than ever. Let me know how you get on!

 

About The Author: Louisa Rose is from Cologne, Germany. She runs Body Health Love, where she blogs about health and beauty advice for young women.

Microblading

I first heard about this when one of my clients decided to go to New York to try this new technique called Microblading for sparse and thin eyebrows. Its a technique that creates more natural looking brows rather than the old type of tattooed brows that look blocky and faded.

A form of tattoo whereby the operator will use a special microblading pen (looks like an exacto knife to me) to draw individual strokes of hair to either fill, define, cover gaps or totally reconstruct to whatever shape is desired, ink is then added onto the lines to make it permanent. Here’s a picture taken from the popsugar.co.uk  to show you the look of the brows.

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Meanwhile I came across this article from the Revelist that shows that microblading has gone one step further to use on hairlines to fill in receding areas, this could be a game changer for all the ladies who are losing their hairlines either with age or pregnancy. Read the full story and more examples following the  link below…

http://www.revelist.com/beauty-news-/hairline-microblading/6938

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My new PLUMP Volumizer is ready!

After a year of working with my favorite lab people, I’m happy to announce that my PLUMP volumizer is now finished and ready to go!

I knew what I wanted in a volumizer and after only 2 changes this time I got what I wanted.

Plump is a very light weight volumizer that gives fine to medium hair lots of ‘airy’ body in the hair. You can actually feel the difference and feel the fullness in the hair. The good thing about Plump is if you also spray it through to the ends, rather than just concentrating on the roots only, it allows the ends to achieve a rounder wave that holds the ends in a fuller bend. Chuffed with this one, Love it and so are my clients!

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Plump is currently available from dekkosalon.com and right here in the SHOP page, unfortunately Plump is not yet available for International shipping, but are working on it.

Dekko’s Daily Grind ~ Waves

Jeanette came in with a one length bob and we decided it was time for a change and to take it short. Hair was cut using the razor, the back and one side were taken quite short while keeping the length and weight on the other. Her natural movement just automatically fell into finger waves so we just encouraged them by pushing them in and using Davines strong hold cream gel to keep them in place. Thanks to Jeanette x

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#Davines #fingerwaves #shorthaircuts #jujuchan #dekkosalon

My article in MHD’s new blog!!

Thank You to MHDProductions (MyHairdressers.com) for featuring my article about scissor cutting versus razor cutting as one of their articles on their brand new blog. Myhairdressers.com was founded in 2007 and specializes in online training taught by England’s top names in hairdressing.  MHD has since attracted numerous international hairdressers to help support and nurture talents around the world, and now  I am honored to have worked with them by writing hairdressing articles for them since they started.