Today's Hair Styles

Gone are the days when being a man meant giving only casual care to your appearance. Whether the stakes are business or romance, looks do count for men today.

Different hairstyles suit different men. Some have to make do with thinning hair. Though this is not seen as a major problem in Britain, for those who might want their hair back there is a product available from their GP. Other men have lifestyles which leave little time for pampering their hair.

Balancing care with practicality, top salon stylists find that men want to maximise what they have in the briefest time possible. There is a trend towards easy-care, low-maintenance looks. This is due in part to the increased popularity of exercise. More and more men are going to gyms. They work out during the day, so they need hairstyles which fall into place with a shake of the head.

The most important element of a look is the right haircut. Certain cutting techniques are best suited to particular hair types. Thin hair, for example should be blunt cut and slightly graduated. That way, the hair strands rest upon one another, creating more body and fullness.

Frizzy hair looks best when its blunt cut, but it should never be tapered or thinned out. The hair might look good right after the cut, but two weeks later, all those little layers start getting bigger, wider and more unruly.

Technological advances in hair care have not only identified a variety of hair types and needs. They have also led to the formulation of cleansing, conditioning and treatment products customised for every type of hair.

One company has developed an exhaustive series of hair fibre tests performed by computer. Once the test results are in, the computer goes on to formulate shampoos and conditions to replenish the hair and to restore its elasticity and healthy condition.

Shampooing should always be followed with a conditioner. This will restore moisture, reduce tangling and help prevent breakage. The hair should be rinsed several times, using cool water during the final rinse to close the hair cuticle, or outer layer.

For a contemporary look, fingers, not combs or styling brushes, should be used to dry the hair. Lift the hair from the root and massage while drying to give it added body and fullness.

To give hair a measure of control, styling ease and versatility, the new gels, mousses and liquid styling lotions now available should be tried. They can be applied alone or in combination.

Use a gel to gently mould a style or to really hold it. Slick gel on wet hair for extra shine. Mousse is a terrific body builder and gives texture and movement to straight hair. Pomades and brilliantines mooth and control flyaway or hard to manage hair. They work well on hair that is kinky and frizzy. And these oil-base creams are great for summer because they protect hair from the sun.

Even with all the new options men have for styling and grooming their hair today, one of the basic rules for keeping hair healthy and looking its best remains eating a sensible well-balanced diet.