Short Hair Styles for Men

What are the latest trends!

Ivan Zoot is a specialist in short hair styles for men. Known as "the Clipper Guy", he travels the world demonstrating his hair cutting techniques at trade shows and other public events. He's also the man behind Zoot! Hair care products for short hair.

We wondered what Ivan Zoot thinks about hair styles for men these days. Like women, many men want their hair to enhance their appearance and make a statement about who they are. So we asked Ivan!

At Salon

When a man sits down in a stylist's chair, what does he usually want?

Men are less driven by celebrity style and pop culture than women are. Men are more open to suggestions from the stylist, especially if she's female. Books and magazines that show hair styles for men are great tools because men are so visual; they can imagine outcomes from pictures. Men may not know the language of hair cutting so I avoid using hair industry jargon and salon terms. For example, to a guy "volume" is a knob on a radio! So instead I talk about fullness or puffiness -- those are words he can visualize.

Hair Trend and Fashion

When you look at celebrities, figures in pop culture and fashion magazines, you see a lot of hair styles for men from the '50s but structured with longer sections or with combed-back styles. What are the latest trends in hair styles for men?

Undercutting and disconnection are big in hair styles for men this spring and summer... not the undercuts we did 10 years ago but cleanly tapered perimeters, disconnected, non-blended tops, and longer top lengths for styling versatility. The sorter undercut areas are perfect for hair graphics and designs.

Covering Grey

Should men cover up their grey hair?

Guy grey should be blended, not completely covered because most men hate having visible outgrowth at the roots. They also don't want anyone saying, "I love your hair color". It should be subtle and unnoticed. Show a little grey for the respect it imparts. Leave a bit of the temples out. Leave out bottom corners of the nape as well. Use semi or demi color so it fades between salon visits. Use lowlights to reduce the grey, not eliminate it.

From Office to Night Life

Most men don't want to spend a lot of time on their hair. What style do you recommend that easily goes from office to night life to casual?

The undercuts described above are perfect for exploring styling options. The looks can be slicked and tamed for daytime work situations. Firm hold gels will create more structured looks by day. For evenings, the added top length can be restyled with funk and texture. Pomades, texture pastes, and creams will break up the look and add some style.

Shaved Look

Is the shaved look still a hot style for men? Is it suitable for everyone?

Head shaving is still popular with many guys. It can look neat and clean. But you have to have a good head shape to pull it off. Lumpy, odd-shaped heads and big mud flap ears benefit from hair because it provides width, height and camouflage. Skin care becomes very important when the head is shaved. Darker skin complexions look better than pale ones.

Sunscreen is a must in summer for all baldies!

Adding Bangs

What are your thoughts on adding bangs to hair styles for men?

Bangs are not a typical guy conversation. But big, wide foreheads can benefit from some hair falling forward. Avoid the dead muskrat look of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich!

If you do choose bangs, keep the amount of hair to a minimum. That gives you the option to wear your bangs down on the forehead or combed up and blended with the hair on the top of the head.

Spiky Hair Styles

Is spiky hair still in? What's the best way to achieve the look?

Spiky is always a hot hair style for men. The height it provides can balance certain facial shapes, too. The messy randomness of spiky hair makes for great casual appeal. Most spiky styles can be tamed down for work and more formal settings, too. Notching or texturizing scissors and razors are the tools of choice for hair cutters to create a truly spiky finish. And firm styling gels are the products of choice for managing the spiky style.

Facial Features

Do you have other tips for downplaying certain facial features?

"Facial hair patterning" is the name for all the tricks of the trade that hair stylists use to alter the appearance of facial shapes. Sideburn length and thickness can be used to narrow a wide face. Beards and goatees are used to alter the appearance of the chin. Mustaches can change the perception of facial features as well. Many cosmetology and barber textbooks have a chapter on using facial hair to alter facial shape appearance. These books are a great place to start learning and experimenting. Online software programs also allow you to upload a picture and try different facial hair options before you commit to one.

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