Jamie Stevens for Errol Douglas
This stunning collection represents the prize-winning hairstyles that earned Jamie Stevens the title of "Men's Hairdresser of the Year" at the British Hairdressing Awards. These styles take clear cues from the classic styles of previous eras, but Stevens brings them into the new century by adding a whole new edge to the looks.
Of his work, Jamie Stevens is quoted as saying, "I wanted to do something different, but with a really masculine feel. There's a mixture of short to long hair, indicative of what's current in high fashion and on the streets right now. Winning a British Hairdressing Award was high on my list of ambitions so I'm delighted with this result."
To-The-Scalp Cut
This sharp-edged hairstyle takes its inspiration from the classic "bowl cut" with its clearly defined terminus around the skull. The bottom edge of the style parallels the parietal ridge with a to-the-scalp cut beneath.
The haircut includes the shadow of the traditional perimeter of the hair, and the upper sections are cut in a uniform length to create a velvety texture in the hair that is. Definition in the hair is created through product use, and the style would be ideal for coarse hair types of almost any wave level, provided they have an appropriate face and skull shape.
Flat Top
The flat top goes high-brow. Far from the classic sock-hop and drive-in movie crowd, this flat top cut keeps the classic lines that make it eternally masculine. However, it's the details that make all the difference.
The top section is a little too long for the classic style and the angles are subsequently altered. This takes the look from old-fashioned, to fashion-forward. Styling is still product driven, using firm-hold gels, pastes, waxes and pomades to give the hair structure and strength.
Flipped-Up Forelock
This layered look has the Rockabilly feel that in and of itself has become a classic. Yet the flipped-up forelock only hints at the pompadour style. And the clean, bristled tip makes this hep-cat a whole other animal.
The sides are carved with a traditional perimeter for a men's style, with a longer dip in the nape section to balance the elongated cockscomb forelock. Style this look by blowing the hair mostly dry after a liberal dosing of gel and sculpting paste. Use pomade to smooth the sides and heat-styling to forge the forward details then soften with a round brush as desired.
Mid-Chest Hair Length for Men
Those who remember the tales of Samson and Delilah know that long hair doesn't equate to femininity in a man. In fact, if Samson's locks were anywhere near like these, we know WHY Delilah denuded him. This cut takes the long, flowing locks and blocks them off at mid-chest, and adds in just the barest hint of layering to frame the face.
Long Curls for Men
This is a look that needs little explanation. Nearly every generation has had their long, circle-cut, layered men's look. The seventies had the Afro, the sixties had their mop-tops, and all the variants in-between.
This look, which is ideally suited to those blessed with natural curls, features even layering to create balance and allow movement, but avoids going so short as to result in a bubble-looking hairdo. The look says "artist", and "rocker", and more importantly "mystery man". Styling is a simple process of wash, gel and dry with a diffused dryer or allow to dry naturally, then fluff with the fingers or a wide-tooth styling tool to avoid breaking the curls too much.
Mod Look
This look is pure Mod - that term of sixties' fashion that meant something was cutting-edge modern. The traditional lines of a men's haircut are drawn anew, with tapered points in place of staid squared edges.
The forward edges of the cut around the face are kept smooth and curve in clean, smooth lines that are complimented by the straight styling of the silky strands of the hair. Recreate the style with a blow-out using a flat brush and smoothing serum, a flat iron can be used if needed to sharpen the top lengths, but be sure to break up any definition with a brush so that you keep that satin, sleek finish.
Fifties College Boys Look
The college boys of the fifties worked hard to make their own look, and get that forward "flip" just right. This haircut borrows heavily from those looks with its short-tapered back and sides with the clean-cut All-American outline. The hair in the top section is longer, and gently layered to allow the forward edge to style into a feathered look.
Recreate this hairstyle with a diffused dryer getting the hair mostly-dry with styling gel having been applied while still wet. Part the hair cleanly, and keep the arrangement simple. Glide the comb sideways along the fringe to fold the ends of the hair over themselves and give your hair that clean-swept crest that makes this style special.
Current Flat-Top
It's the style so nice, we have to see it twice - the flat-top. This look, too, is inspired by the traditional cut, but has been revised to bring it current. The cut is still all about precision, but this style's longer top section is only slightly in excess of the traditional look, while the telling details here are in the perimeter area.
The sides and nape all taper smoothly to create the sharp, clean silhouette of the hairstyle, but the perimeter edge isn't as sharply defined as one might find in a traditional cut. The tapers fade to the scalp allowing the edges to become less distinct, without taking away from the clean silhouette. Again, styling consists of structuring product, such as gels, pomades and waxes with a focus on lighter applications to avoid overloading the fine blond hair's texture.
Hair: Jamie Stevens for Errol Douglas
