Curl Up With This
We all need it but hardly ever get it and it’s never around when you need it. When you do get it, it’s not always what you expect. Oh sure, there are times when it’s everything you thought it would be and even better than you had hoped but that feeling rarely lasts and after awhile, you’re back on the market looking for another. Of course, I’m talking product (get your mind out of the gutter, I know what you were thinking!). It feels like so few of us men actually use product in our hair and those that do, I have found, don’t really know how to use it properly for their particular hair style/texture. As professionals, we’re supposed to be up to speed on what’s new or what would work best for our respective client’s tresses and yet we often fall short (I have too, so don’t feel bad). So, let’s dip in our fingers and scoop out a little, shall we?
No two heads are alike and much the same can be said of products; what they can be used for, their hold, etc.. Sometimes, the hardest part of using a product is how to use it. This can be particularly challenging to our wavy to curly haired friends, as so many products it seems are geared toward those with straight hair. And taming that frizzy shrub atop your head? Forget about it! But all is not lost, dear reader, so don’t resign yourself to going the route of The Rock and just polish your head to a high shine, there is hope!
Since this is primarily focused on our wavy-haired friends, those of you who have locks more toward the straighter variety are welcome to skip ahead to the next article, maybe go grab a sandwich while the rest of us are talking, the choice is yours!
Many times, those blessed with bodacious tresses just want to look less messy. The best method I have found with just accentuating the curl, is dampening the hair (not dripping wet, just a little water) and first running your hands or a wide tooth comb through it, to detangle the ends and help tame your mane. Next, take out the product of your choice and run it through your hair, from about midshaft to the ends. To really bring out the curl, kind of scrunch it from the bottom up, in a sort of squeezing action and letting the hair just fall naturally. If you have sorter hair and are looking for more of a pompadour-kind-of look, Apply the product from back to front, making certain you’re applying it as evenly as you can. Style to your liking and then gently push your hair forward, to help loosen the hair up and give it a little movement.
If tackling the frizz is your goal without having to go through the whole process of wetting, combing, etc., just grab your product and take out the amount described above and just pet the surface of the hair, kind of like petting a cat.
In terms of how much product to use, I find it best to use about a thumbnail sized amount to start, work it into my hands and kind of smear it into the hair, working from shaft to ends. If that doesn’t feel like it’s enough, repeat the process as needed. Using this method, I find you rarely put too much in and then you have to shower and start over (think of it as un-cooking a steak).
In summation, the product best suited for you, is going to depend on your hair type and what is available in shop, so your best bet is to talk with your stylist and get their input. What works for one person might not be the best bet for the other, you know. I hope you have found this to be enlightening, good luck and happy styling!
– Haircut by Michael M. – Covina Barbershop
-Written by our very own COVINA BARBER TIM DREW
