British GQ - 04.2020

(avery) #1
DETAILS − GROOMING

Brad Pitt’s doing it. So is
Timothée Chalamet. Even
Ansel Elgort is getting in on
the action. Here’s why
you should be wearing your
hair long, pulled back and
silver-screen ready

Founding fathers of
#Hollywoodhair Brad Pitt,
Ansel Elgort and
Timothée Chalamet

W

hat would men’s magazines have
done for the past year or so, I wonder,
without the re-emergence of Brad Pitt
as the style icon he was back in his
1990s heyday? From his chisel-jawed
turn in Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In... Hollywood last
year to his more recent Brioni tux-clad series of red carpet
appearances, Pitt has proved beyond any doubt that there
is style (and sex appeal) to be had after 50. One of the key
areas in which Pitt excels is his hair. Though recent years
have seen the actor opt for darker hues and shorter cuts,
his most recent honeyed slick-back is not only incredibly
complementary to both his bone structure and his skin
tone, but it’s also a look that whispers style – a cut that
speaks of a certain glamour only Hollywood can truly
muster – and it’s a look that goes as well with a tux as
it does with a beaten-up band T-shirt and jeans, as Pitt
has so deftly proved in OUATI...H. Pitt’s red carpet
train chasers Ansel Elgort (he of Nail Varnishgate) and
Timothée Chalamet have also tried out the look recently,
both with equal levels of success. GQ’s resident barber
Joe Mills explains how to get the cut yourself (left)...

The products you need


  1. Spray by Kevin Murphy, £23. kevinmurphystore.com 2. Brush by Denman, £7. 50.
    denmanbrush.com 3. Pomade by Baxter’s Of California, £19. At amazon.co.uk
    4. Hairdryer by Dyson, £300. dyson.com


Like this look?

Here’s how

to do it
Want to nail the Pitt fit? Barber
Joe Mills of London’s Joe & Co
is here to help...

Who does the sweep suit?
This cut suits medium to thick hair.
And, ideally, if you have a slight
wave in your hair, this will work for
you. You need to have a good four
to six inches of hair on the top.
How should I have it cut?
Ask your barber or stylist for a
longer, classic, layered cut with
some texture and no hard lines
around the back and sides. The
top should be left heavy, with a
little texture added to it. The
back and sides should be a good
three inches in length, which will
allow it to be swept back. Texture
needs to be added here too so
that it has some movement and
doesn’t look like a Lego head.
How do I style it?


  1. Ideally, you need to get the
    hairdryer out for this as it’s
    not a slicked-back and product-
    heavy style.

  2. Use a texture spray on wet,
    freshly washed hair and blow-
    dry it back from your face using
    a vent brush.

  3. When your hair is almost dry,
    apply a styling cream, which will
    give it enough hold but also allow
    you to be able to run your fingers
    through it.


How to ROCK the

‘OLD HOLLY WOOD’ SWEEP

Story by Teo van den Broeke Illustration by Sam Gilbey

04-20DetailsGrooming_3424392.indd 55 12/02/2020 13:02


APRIL 2020 GQ.CO.UK 55
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