Hair stylists notice men’s hair trends returning to traditional roots

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Men’s hairstyles have been continually revolving around a large spectrum of styles and ideas over the past few decades. However, in more recent years, styles have been returning to the traditional roots of barbershop styles.

Ari Davis
Tyler Kesler gets a haircut that is consistent with how other BYU male students are styling their hair. (Ari Davis)

Stylist Sara Richards has been in the industry of hair design for over 11 years and has noticed a large change in men’s hair trends. Richards said when she started styling hair in 2002, she noticed three distinct, popular men’s styles.

“Each style was very different,” Richards said. “There was the ‘frosted tip’ trend, men with all hair textures had it, even Justin Timberlake’s curly locks were tipped blonde. The ‘shag,’ which can be seen on Zac Efron in ‘High School Musical,’ and third was the ’emo cut’ which was proudly sported by Adam Lambert.”

Now Richards has noticed a continuing trend since 2011, what she calls the “modern pompadour.”

“Many of my clients are asking for tapered short sides and adding a part instead of slicking it straight back,” Richards said. “They are also asking for ‘hard part’ where I actually shave a part into their scalp for a more defined part. We have seen a lot of that style in 2015. Because of this style and cut, barber shops are becoming more popular and men are looking for that perfect taper on the sides. Short sides are all the rage right now.”

This trend can be found on men all over BYU campus because it coincides with the BYU Honor Code. The Honor Code establishes a standard of living that is unique to the LDS culture as part of the code: it requires men to maintain a clean and neat hairstyle.

The Honor Code requires male students’ hair to be trimmed above the collar, with ears exposed and side burns trimmed above the bottom of earlobe.

Stylist Alena Lopez from the Wilkinson Center’s Studio 1030 said about 70 percent of her clients get this cut.

“History repeats itself in the fashion and beauty industry,” Lopez said. “We are just going back and redoing what has been done before, only this time with a modern twist.”

Ari Davis
BYU junior Sam Tempest likes keeping his hair short on the sides and long on top. (Ari Davis)

Lopez said this trend is very similar to haircuts that were popular back in the 1940s, only the current trend has slight changes and adjustments.

BYU junior Sam Tempest said he got the haircut idea from friends and celebrities.

“I normally liked to keep my hair fairly short while on my mission and when I came home I realized I could let the top grow a little longer and still maintain a clean-looking hairstyle,” Tempest said.

He also noted that he does not prefer the “hipster cut” with extremely short sides and a very long top. Tempest said his favorite cut is a style with shorter sides and a part, a style that is common at BYU.

Stylist Sara Richards said she expects to see this trend continue in 2016.

“We are going to see more men letting go of the ‘sleek’ combed look and using their hair’s natural messy texture,” she said. “Think rocker on top, business on the sides and back.'”

Richards said that volume, especially longer locks on top and shorter sides, is key to this haircut.

“I am loving the men’s hair trend these last couple of years,” she said. “There is just something nice about a clean tailored haircut. It makes a man look professional and that he actually takes time for himself.”

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