The Leading Melbourne Hairdresser’s Guide to Male Hair

A man’s hair is an integral part of his overall look. Healthy, luscious hair brings out the best in everyone, but it’s surprising how hands-off men are when it comes to taking care of it. While women tend to put more emphasis on maintaining their hair, most gents take the no-fuss route of cutting their hair short and air-drying it. But this won’t do! Don’t you want to look good too?Less hair doesn’t necessarily mean less maintenance since the principles of good and healthy hair still apply no matter how long your mane is. As a man, taking care of your hair is much easier than you think – as long as you know what to do. The team at Heading Out Hair & Beauty is here to help, and make it easy for you, of course!

So, what tools and products are essential for every good at-home hair care cabinet? Let the team at Heading Out Hair & Beauty run you through the supplies you need to make at home hair styling easy.

What makes men’s hair different?

Men’s hair is naturally coarser than women’s hair. We more often see that women are the ones that take the time to tame their hair, popping into a Melbourne hair salon more often for touch-ups and hair management. Men don’t tend to do this as much, and the result is coarse hair that’s dull, dry and needs a little bit of TLC.

But coarse hair doesn’t mean it’s damaged. In fact, men’s hair is usually very strong and healthy! The only problem is that taming such a strong head of hair can be quite challenging since it’s usually subjected to harsh shampoos and products as part of the hair care regimen. Does this sound like the types of products in your hair care cabinet? Most likely!

Hair mistakes to avoid

Your hair care routine will be more effective when you know what to avoid. Here are some of the products and practices you need to avoid according to the best hairdressers in Melbourne (the team at Heading Out, of course!) to keep your hair healthy.

All in one shampoo and cheap shampoos bought in store

Chances are you’ve come across products boasting their multiple (2-in-1, 3-in-1, or even more than that 😱) abilities. Getting one of these products may seem like a good idea to save time and money caring for your hair, but most of these products have yucky, harmful ingredients and give average results at best.

Instead of getting an all-in-one shampoo and asking it to work overtime for all your hair care needs, invest in a complete hair system made of targeted products such as shampoo, conditioner, and hair treatment. We have a range of premium products that are unisex for your hair care needs.

Must know tip: We always recommend that you consult your hairdresser to advise you on the best shampoo, conditioner and styling products for your hair. Just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean that it will suit your mane!

Using too much product

A little goes a long way when it comes to hair styling products for men. Using too much product, especially gels and oils, can make your hair greasy and unhealthy. The product build-up will weigh down your strands and make your hair appear flat – like it’s stuck to your head!

For your styling needs, use clays or mousses rather than heavy waxes. When you feel like your hair needs to be cleaned to remove excess product, we recommend adding a pre-shampoo. These products absorb oils and impurities to leave you with clean, fresh hair. We recommend products from Kevin Murphy, Eleven and Alterna for all your styling needs.

Neglecting other care

Proper hair care doesn’t end with choosing the right products. You also need to take good care of your scalp to guarantee the health of your hair follicles. Gently massage your scalp when you shampoo to activate hair follicle growth and eliminate dead skin cells at the roots. If this sounds like too much work for you, just remember – women do this on a daily basis!

Scalp care also entails going easy on the heat when styling your hair and using the right products to protect the scalp from dryness. Hot water, intense heat from dryers, and strong chemical products can cause your scalp to flake and limit hair growth. Try limiting the heat you expose your scalp to and use natural shampoos to encourage a healthy scalp and hair.

The wrong haircut

Trims are essential for keeping your hair healthy. The wrong haircut will leave you with damaged hair, such as split ends, and this is why you need to work with the right stylist for the perfect men’s haircut.

To get the best haircut, you need to know what suits your face shape and style. A professional hair salon can give you recommendations and the right style for your face.

Getting the perfect style for your face

Before getting a haircut from a hairdresser, it’s important to understand your face shape. And yes, yours will be different to your friends or celebrities! Different men’s hair styles are ideal for specific face shapes, and understanding how your face is built will make it easy for you to get a cut that brings out your best features.

Measure across your forehead, cheekbones, jawline, and face height to figure out the shape of your face. Once you have these measurements, note which element is the largest since it’ll greatly determine your face profile. The different face profiles include:

Heart: Heart-shaped faces have a larger forehead and smaller jawline and cheekbones. The chin is pointed.

Round: The cheekbones and face height have the same measurement. The jawline and forehead are a little smaller, and the angle of the jaw is softer and less defined. 

Diamond: The face length is the largest, and the chin is pointed. The cheekbones and the forehead have the same measurement, while the jawline is the smallest of these four elements.

Square: All four elements have fairly similar lengths. The jaw’s angle is sharp and not rounded as with other profiles.

Oval: The forehead is wider and tapers towards the chin. The face height is longer than the width of the cheekbones. The angle of the jaw is rounded.

Triangular: The jawline is greater than the cheekbones. The forehead is smaller than the length of the cheekbones.

Rectangular: The face height is greater than all other measurements. Jawline, cheekbones, and forehead are of similar size.

Haircuts for heart faces

Widest at the hairline and gradually narrowing towards the chin, the heart-shaped face requires proper styling to appear more proportional. Avoid tight cuts as these will emphasize the width of the hairline and the narrowness of the chin. Instead, opt for loose, swept looks with light thinning to soften the face shape.

Facial hair is also recommended in this case since it will help the face gain fullness in the lower, narrow half of the head. But don’t worry! If facial hair isn’t your thing, a little bit of longer hair on the sides should even you out just fine!

Haircuts for round faces

Circular with no sharp angles and a rounded chin, round faces benefit from hairstyles that add some definition. Angular and jaunty cuts work well to add structure and sharpen up the round face’s soft edges. Thin the chin area with a full square beard to create the appearance of a chiselled jaw.

Haircuts for diamond faces

Narrow at the chin and brow areas and widest at the cheekbone area, the diamond is one of the rarest face profiles. Because of this, it needs expert styling, and hairstyles that add width at the forehead and jaw areas are your best bet. Fringed haircuts will add texture to the forehead, while longer hairstyles that can be tucked behind the ears work well to accentuate the diamond face’s bone structure. Soft layers are ideal for this face shape to soften the natural edges of the diamond.

Haircuts for square faces

Characterized by even proportions, a razor-sharp jawline, and an overall chiselled appearance, the square shape face is considered the masculine ideal – so if you’ve got it, you’re in luck! It’s versatile enough to work with most hairstyles, but classic cuts such as close fades, short layers, and side partings are the best for this shape. The choice is yours, and consider yourself lucky!

Haircuts for oval face

The oval face is symmetrical and well-proportioned, making it great for experimentation – so don’t be afraid to try something new! Most cuts suit an oval face, but you should wear your hair off the forehead to optimize your shape. The classic short back and sides trims are among the best styles that do justice to the oval face as it adds volume and edges at the top.

Haircuts for triangular faces

Triangular faces have a wide jawline and a narrow forehead – so they’re similar to an exaggerated heart shape. Styles with a lot of volume are perfect to balance these strong facial features out. Opt for longer haircuts with fullness at the sides to add more depth.

Haircuts for rectangular faces

The longest of all face profiles requires well-proportioned styles that avoid making the face look too height-heavy. Avoid making the sides too short as this will only accentuate the length of your face. Try styles that let the hair fall to the sides or across the forehead to ensure your face doesn’t appear narrower. This is a face shape which requires a little bit of illusion to clean up the proportions!

Conclusion

As a man, your hair needs proper care to stay healthy and look good. Neglecting your hair will result in hair loss, a dry scalp, and a lot of other things which most men don’t worry about. You may even have some of these hair problems already! But maintaining a head full of healthy hair doesn’t require a lot of effort since all you need is a proper hair care routine.

The team at Heading Out Hair & Beauty is well-versed in men’s hair styles, and we can help you choose the colour, cut, or treatment that suits you. Book an appointment today, and let’s start your journey towards beautiful, healthy hair.