How To Select A Hairstyle

When was the last time you actually sought out a new hairstyle?

Choosing a new, stylish haircut is strategic - it signifies that you’re not stagnant, that you’re evolving; it suggests that you’re still fashionably relevant. However, picking a new hairstyle can also be both frightening and foreign, and that’s why guys don’t often do it. (After all, it takes a long time to “tame” your hair to lie just so.) It doesn’t have to be that way, though. Selecting a new hairdo can be as simple as 1-2-3-4 if you follow these four quick steps for choosing a hairstyle.

Step 1 : Acknowledge your hair
For those contemplating a new hairstyle, the first step is acknowledging your hair. Like so many other things in life, it’s not about what you want to do. it’s about what you can do. A great haircut is one that complements the hair’s natural ability and hairline. The process starts with a trip to the mirror to examine the “lay of the land.” For example, guys with really fine hair might avoid longer haircuts; chances are the cut will look wispy and thin. It all begins with an honest assessment of what can really be done -- and also what you’re willing to do in terms of time. End your evaluation by recognizing what you’re willing to invest, time-wise, in a new hairstyle each morning.

Step 2: Look for examples
Once you have an idea of what you can do and what you’re willing to do, your research begins -- looking for examples. It’s like shopping for a car: You want to know what’s in, what looks good and what’s attainable. Searching for actual illustrations for a hairstyle begins with being conscious of the fact that you want something new and already having an idea of what that something may look like. Then, you visualize it by flipping through magazines, comparing your favorite celebrities and scrutinizing the average Joes walking down the street. At this stage, be open to inspiration and take it all in.
Step 3: Choose the right place
Your research doesn’t end with finding a good example. The third step, once you have the ideal hairstyle in mind, is finding the right place. Convenience does have its merits, but don’t go to any quick-stop hair shop. (Those are for the youngsters and less committed, anyway.) Find the appropriate place: For a highly stylized cut, go to a salon; for a buzz, go to an old-fashioned barbershop that specializes in clipper cuts. Execution is key, so find the best place/person for the job. Always consult friends, and online reviews work too. Again, don’t just hand yourself over to convenience or cost -- just because a place gives an expensive haircut, it doesn’t mean it’ll be good. Ask around and choose the right place.
Step 4: Be flexible
At this point, find your way to the “chair.” Sit down with an idea of what both your hair and you will do, an example in hand, and with the confidence of knowing your research has put you in capable hands. And it’s on the third step in the process that the fourth and final step comes into play: Be flexible. You have invested time and mustered the courage to try something new, but don’t be afraid to improvise at the last minute at the suggestion of the hairdresser. As a trained expert, he or she, after having felt the texture of your hair, will be able to advise you knowledgeably on the true potential of your hair -- and your proposed new cut. Don’t compromise too much, but also let them do their job to help you reinvigorate your look and make you look your best. After all, isn’t that what got the whole process started in the first place?