The right hairstyle pulls a man’s look together, gives his overall style a considerable upgrade, and hugely impacts his confidence. Further, there are scientific reasons behind why women have a certain affinity for particular hairstyles on a man. Graduating from a cosmetology program gives you the ability to open a salon geared toward men, a concept that’s become very popular in the past few years.
Popular Men’s Hairstyles
There are countless men’s hairstyles, from a short, sophisticated cut to a bold faux hawk. As a cosmetologist, knowing the do’s, don’ts, tips, tricks, and psychology behind men’s hairstyles offers an additional avenue of income for the salon.
Here are a few popular men’s hairstyle names from yesterday and today:
- Messy Undercut
- Classic Undercut
- Classic Fade Cuts
- Gentleman Cut
- Layered Undercut
- Disconnected Undercut
- High Fade Quiff
- Spiky Quiff
- Long Fringe Undercut
- Modern Slicked Back
- High-Lo Fade, Surgical Line, and Long Fringe Combination
Why Style Men’s Hair?
The demand for knowledgeable men’s hairdressers and stylists increases at a consistent pace year over year. This shift occurred in the men’s pampering culture during the last decade. Being a licensed hairdresser for men, in addition to women, increases your earnings exponentially. Furthermore, once you gather enough experience in the field of men’s hair care, launching a men’s haircutting salon is yet another opportunity for growth. Not only hair care services for men, but self-care products produce earning potential. Men’s bathroom cabinets now overflow with moisturizers, eye serums, facial cleansers, bronzers, anti-aging lotions, concealers, and mud masks.
What are Some Good Hairstyles for Men?
The skills and techniques to provide exceptional hairstyles for men differ slightly from women’s hairstyling. Listed here are a few of the bread-and-butter basic methods for cutting and styling men’s hair:
Arching technique – the method for marking or outlining the sides of the neck, the bottom of the sideburns, in front and over the ears.
Scissors-over-fingers – a method of holding a section of hair between the fingers, so the cutting position is outside the fingers with the palm facing up.
Scissors-over-comb – the function of the comb for this technique is lifting and guiding the hair with relevance to the position of the scissors. The scissors and comb move together in the same direction.
Clippers-over-comb – almost the same as with scissors-over-comb, except clippers get used in this method. Clipper attachment size varies depending on the type of hair.
Blade-on-skin – outlines the temple area, the haircut’s perimeter (including nape), the forehead, around the ears, and shortening the length of bangs using scissors or clippers.
How to Create A Salon Environment from A Man’s Perspective?
Not that long ago, a man went to the barber or trusted a scissor wielding friend to do the deed of cutting his hair. Fast-forward in time, and now many men enjoy the attention and relaxation the salon experience provides. Whether you want to add the concept of men’s styling to your salon’s repertoire or dedicate an entire salon’s focus to men’s hair, the most effective approach to an atmosphere devoted to men’s hair is when you imagine the concept through a man’s eyes.
To envision an inviting men’s atmosphere for a salon, here are a few simple things to consider when allocating some or all of the salon to the art of men’s hair:
Color Palette
If you dedicate an area in your salon or set up an entire man-themed salon, the best color palette is neutral, or colors men favor. For instance, black stirs up images of luxury while blues foster serenity, and browns typically denote earth tones. Another idea for men’s hairstyling is the themed salon, which has grown in popularity over recent years. For instance, utilize the color combination of a sports team, video games, cigar bar, or pub theme.
Reading Materials
Subscribe to men’s periodicals on various topics and ensure they contain trending men’s styles for reference purposes. A few good ideas for men’s reading are GQ, Popular Mechanics, Sports Illustrated (don’t forget the swimsuit edition), and Maxim, to name just a few. If the publications’ maturity level is in question, use your best judgment and keep the racier men’s magazines in a separate area, especially if your salon sees male and female clients or children.
Privacy
Take care to understand that men and hair salons haven’t always gone hand in hand, so privacy is vital. Wall off a part of the salon for men’s services or temporarily set up a portable wall on wheels when you have an appointment with a male client. You can easily purchase mobile walls through an office supply chain.
Products
It’s a unique experience for men entering into a more fashionably acclimatized phase to purchase self-care products such as styling spray, mousse, gel, and specialty shampoos. Be prepared to not only recommend styling products geared for men but demonstrate their use as well. Ease of use with men’s styling products is essential. It is best to recommend hair care routines that are simple and contain only a few steps.
Imagery
Show photos of men with the latest hair cut designs. Proper placement of large clear shots depicting men engaged in various activities and donning their up-to-date hair trends helps a guy choose his new style. Utilize other man-friendly imagery like cars, sports teams, and military themes. Remember, like with the periodicals in your salon, ensure the image is not offensive to your clientele.
Employ A Male Stylist in Your Salon
While it’s true, most men find it perfectly acceptable to go to a hair salon and get styled by a female cosmetologist; some men still prefer male barbers and stylists. If you own a salon and intend on having all your bases covered for profitability and client satisfaction, consider hiring a male hairstylist. You would not want to lose male clients and possible earnings for your salon because of a man’s discomfort with a female cutting their hair and tending to their other hair care needs.
Sharing Tips to Maintain Men’s Hair
As we mentioned before, it’s not enough to cut a man’s hair and recommend products. More than likely, if this is your male client’s first salon visit as opposed to going to the barbershop, he doesn’t have much of a hair care routine besides shampoo, conditioner, and gel. Have these handy hair maintenance tips ready along with your product recommendations for male clients:
Tip #1: Do Not Over-shampoo
Men damage their hair by taking all-to-frequent and overly hot showers. Hot water strips oils, leaves hair dry, damages the follicles, and causes hair loss. Instead, suggest minimizing showers to three or four times a week, keep the temperature tepid, and recommend a hair-restoring men’s dry shampoo on his off days.
Tip #2: The Scalp Needs Care Too
Few men think their scalp needs attention, but scalp condition plays a vital part of overall hair health, including hair loss, also known as alopecia. If you notice oil build-up on your client’s hair or flaky skin, it may be time to suggest he start treating his scalp. Consider recommending a scalp mask that hydrates and relieves dandruff or a scalp massage routine that encourages blood flow and perpetuates nutrients to the roots.
Tip #3: The Right Styling Tools for The Job
Many men learn to use styling tools from females in their lives, but techniques for men’s and women’s hairstyles vary drastically. Men need to understand their hair type’s specific needs and the damage the incorrect usage of tools or the wrong styling tools causes. Recommend your male client invest in a high-quality hot-air brush and comb to style hair and an electric razor to trim sideburns. These tools make it easier for a man to re-create and maintain the same look from the salon. The proper tools also assist him in keeping his hairstyle clean and support hair health between salon visits.
Tip #4: Get an Early Jump on Hair Loss
Common concerns for men include premature balding, receding, and thinning hair. If your client already experiences these issues, recommend a topical treatment that helps stop hair loss progression, and encourages new hair growth. Alternatively, suggest he speak with his doctor regarding prescriptions that treat the hair follicle. Recommend foods rich in omega oils, Vitamin E, B-vitamins, and iron, like salmon, leafy greens, and poultry to promote healthy hair growth. Along with regular haircuts, proper salon products, and a nutritious diet, devoting a little extra time makes a man’s hair fuller, healthier, and easy to maintain for years to come.
Tip #5: What About Facial Hair?
Facial hair needs care too. Neglected beards can become dry, itchy, unruly, and a distraction from the rest of a man’s overall appearance. Suggest your client incorporate a beard conditioner and comb made for beards into his morning routine. Also, recommend a beard trimmer with various sizes and attachments to keep the beard’s shape and thickness under control.
Tip #6: Suggest Other Salon Services
Your male salon client typically won’t be aware of all the services you offer. After you complete the appointment with your male client, take the time to set his follow-up haircut, and recommend other services. Beard trims, manicures, grey blending, hair-coloring, pedicures, scalp massage, hair masks, and facials complement his well-groomed look.
Did learning about good hairstyles for men interest you? Ready to become a cosmetologist? Earning your diploma in Cosmetology may be the next step in your career. Meridian College offers a Cosmetology training program in Florida that prepares you to deliver high–quality beauty and hair services to both men and women. Meridian College offers a hands–on Cosmetology training program giving you the skills you need to start an exciting career and become a leader in the beauty industry.
Contact Meridian College today to learn more about becoming a cosmetologist.