2019-08-01_Men_s_Health_South_Africa

MH.CO.ZA/ August 2019 59

“The days of the Gordon Gekko

look are gone,” says Cutler. “You

don’t want to look like [Anthony]

Scaramucci, where your hair doesn’t

move.” Still, some die-hard gel

users just can’t let it go, and others,

Nelli notes, opt for a throwback

old-Hollywood Mad Men style with

lots of shine – which is fine when

the product is used sparingly. The

good news is that brands have made

softer versions, with less alcohol and

a lighter hold. Nelli recommends

using a bit when your hair’s wet and

then blow-drying it in to give you

more volume, without the hard-shell,

touch-it-and-it’ll-break look.

Fish Superfish Fishglue Gel

150ml R39 Clicks

The Old

Guard

YOU WANT:

YOU WANT:

YOU WANT:

YOU WANT:

YOU WANT:

YOU WANT:

CREAM

CLAY

LOTION

OIL

HAIRSPRAY

Nelli likes it for curly hair, and employs
curl creams on her African-American
clients. “I’ll use it to set the curl without it
getting frizzy, so it will look finished.”

USE IT FOR: Shape your beard and hair with
ease. It has natural essential oils that are
good for your skin and hair.
THE LOOK: Low shine, low hold

Clay is often best used for relaxed,
informal slick-backed hairstyles. It
doesn’t dry hard, so it can be reworked
as desired during the day.

USE IT FOR: A finished but natural look for an
everyday hairstyle.
THE LOOK: Low Shine, Medium Hold

“This is very hard to use on guys unless

you have outrageously dry, thick hair,” says

Cutler. “Most heads can’t hold it. But you

could apply it with a pomade or a cream

to emulsify it.” Sposito recommends using

oil when wearing your hair down in a “no

style, long-hair-don’t-care” (like Jason

Momoa) look. Even Aquaman could use a

paste or a cream to help step it up.

USE IT FOR: Healing dry hair, smoothing and

finishing, a “no style” look

THE LOOK: Low shine, low hold

All our experts are big fans of salt

spray, for adding texture and giving hair

“I like it a little drier but less tacky.

Most guys today want to run their

hands through their hair,” says Cutler.

Fortunately, brands have created products

with a low-key grip.

USE IT FOR: A finishing touch for just about

any style, to lock in your look

THE LOOK: Medium to high shine, medium

to strong hold

dimension without looking overly styled.

“I like to use this as a base when it’s wet,

and it gives it a sea-salt texture,” says Nelli.

Cutler remembers when table salt would

be mixed into water backstage at fashion

shows. Luckily, you won’t have to do that.

USE IT FOR: Short, textured cuts and adding

casual, “no style” body to hair

THE LOOK: Low shine, low hold

The Wild

Cards

SALT SPRAY

AND YES, GEL IS

STILL A THING

A thickening lotion helps the hair shaft

to swell, thereby increasing the overall

volume, even though there’s less hair.

USE IT FOR: To create fullness and give body

to your hair.

THE LOOK: Natural shine, low hold

YOU’VE GOT:

WAVY, CURLY

HAIR WITH

SOME BODY

YOU’VE GOT:

MEDIUM TO

THICK HAIR

YOU’VE GOT:

FINER HAIR;

LONGER,

THICK HAIR

YOU’VE GOT:

DRY, THICK,

COARSE HAIR

YOU’VE GOT:

FINE HAIR

YOU’VE GOT:

HAIR. PERIOD.

GO WITH:

GO WITH:

GO WITH:

GO WITH:

GO WITH:

GO WITH:

L’Oreal Men Expert

Barber Club – Beard

& Hair styling cream

R129 superbalist.com

Kiehl’s Texturizing

Clay 50ml R370

edgars.co.za

Schwarzkopf Osis +

Session Label Salt

Spray 200ml R286

everythinghair.co.za

Moroccanoil Thickening

Lotion 100ml R410

everythinghair.co.za

Paul Mitchell MVRCK

Grooming Spray Flexible &

Lightweight Hold 215ml R455

retailbox.co.za

GO WITH:

Balmain Paris Argan

Moisturizing Elixir 100ml

R595 takealot.com