Wavy hair is often considered the sweet spot of men’s hair types.
It’s got the perfect amount of volume without the high maintenance of curly hair.
But wavy hair isn’t all fun and games.
If you have this hair type, you’ve probably struggled to get your natural waves to cooperate.
Wavy hair is amazing for guys because there are endless ways to style it.
First, get yourself a textured quiff (otherwise known as David Beckham’s signature look) or a similar haircut that lets you take full advantage of all that volume and/or thickness.
Once you have the right cut, use pomade to style your hair and keep it locked into place for all-day sexiness.
Wavy hair types can be prone to frizz, so be sure to pick up a moisturizing shampoo (look for one with Argan or Jojoba Oil) and a light conditioner that won’t weigh your strands down too much.
So many of us are obsessed by the thought of a thinning thatch that’s it’s easy to forget that baldness isn’t a man’s only worry when it comes to his barnet: thick, wavy and generally unruly hair can all present problems, too.
And having a Don King hair day can affect more than just your appearance. According to a study by Yale University, men who aren’t happy with their hair tend to be more self-conscious, more self-critical and less sociable than their well-coiffed counterparts. Even the thought of a bad hair day was shown to affect self-esteem dramatically.
Before you literally pull your hair out, remember that there’s no such thing as ‘normal’ when it comes to the stuff on your head — just the hair you happen to have been dealt: hair that’s unique to you. And what makes it unique depends on its structure.
Around 40 percent of Caucasian men have slightly wavy hair, and if you’re one of them, you’re in good company. David Gandy, Orlando Bloom and Roger Federer are three well-known wavy hair men, who know how to ride the messy waves.
Like curly hair, wavy hairstyles for men can appear bulky and tends to react to the weather with the wavy hair becoming more pronounced at times of high humidity or when there’s drizzle in the air. Additional waves can also sprout in places you’d rather they didn’t and get knotted and tangled if your hair is long.
“Rather than a bad thing, in many respects, wavy hair is the holy grail of hair types,” says Winkler. “Pretty much all styles work, but anything pushed back really shows off that wave. If your hair is thick as well as wavy, though, your barber can take some of the bulk out with a razor or thinning scissors without risking frizz.”
The best wavy hairstyles for men include the undercut (where the sides and back a keep ultra short with the hair worn long on top), the classic and modern public school side part (where the fringe falls forward), or loose and tousled (think Jon Snow or Harry Styles). Just remember: the longer the hair, the more pronounced the wave, so if control is your aim, keep your wavy hairstyles for men under three inches or so in length.
To tame long wavy hair that tends to be a bit unruly, Morgan suggests tying it up loosely overnight. “Taken down in the morning it will have a natural, messy, wavy look very low maintenance and effortlessly cool.”
There are an abundance of products for wavy hair men… It’s all about finding the right one for you and your natural waves. “I recommend a sea salt or volumizing spray to give a bit of oomph before styling with either a glossy pomade or a styling paste,” says Winkler.
You can maximize (and look after) your wavy haircuts with hair products designed to define and enhance curls and waves while reducing the mad scientist look with an anti-frizz serum.
If you really want to wave goodbye, you can always temporarily remove them with the help of a pair of ceramic straighteners. If you have particularly short wavy hair, opt for a model with smaller plates as these offer greater precision which is the difference between smoldering looks and second-degree burns.