How to Achieve the Perfect Man-Bun
(photo: Getty)
With summer approaching, it’s time to broach a difficult and divisive topic: the man-bun. Some are ardent fans of it, while others are resolutely against the coiffure. There are blog posts dedicated to them, and there’s fervent debate as to the proper terminology to use when referring to one (ponytail? topknot?). Regardless how you feel about them, expect to see a lot of them once the warm weather arrives. Some of you may even want to try to attempt your very own. That, friends, is a more challenging proposition. To help guide you, we’ve talked to hairstylist Aaron Grenia, owner of IGK Salon in New York City. The bad news is that unless you’ve got a six-to-eight-inch mane going, it’s going to be difficult to achieve the look for this summer, but here is his advice on growing, and styling, the enviable do.
How to Get the Look
“You just really have to let the hair grow. If you want hair from the front and the back to be at the length where it can reach into the bun or the pony[tail], you just have to let it grow. If you get any trim, you have trust your stylist is just going to get the split ends and really not take any length. You have to give it at least six to seven months of growth. Really, it’s all about dealing with, navigating, that uncomfortable period where it’s looking weird. You can always wear hats, but product-wise, things have to change when you’re growing your hair out. You don’t want to use anything super-sticky or thick-textured waxes or pomades. You want to use something softer, like coconut oil—like what you’d find in the store. It’s good for all hair types, it’s good for the scalp. If your hair has some bulk or volume, it can help it to lay down flat. It is a little greasy, though, so it’s best for thicker, coarser hair. You can also use leave-in conditioners, Oribe Supershine (both the light and regular versions) works well.
"There’s not a lot to say about that. You just have to sit through the awkward phase. You need the mental discipline to not touch it until it’s the right length. You’re going to want to think about hats and stuff. If you’re in New York or a colder area, you can just hide it under a beanie for the winter. [Laughs] The key is, I think, in getting it into a man-bun or a knot is that the front of your hairline and your back hairline needs to be long. I notice when guys are growing their hair out, it’s the nape hair in the back that really bugs them. You’ve really got to let that part grow.”
See more: How To Maintain Perfectly “Unkempt” Stubble
(photos: Getty)
How to Style It
“Right after washing the hair—I’d only recommend washing it every couple of days, especially with guys, so you can get a buildup of natural oils, which helps to add weight. If it’s too soft and clean, it’s actually harder to put up. If there’s a little weight, it’s a lot easier to manage. You want your hair to be damp out of the shower, maybe towel dry. If you towel dry it aggressively, it’ll add frizz, which makes it hard to manage. You want to blot it, dab it, to get the moisture out but without frizzing it out. Then run the oil through your hands with your fingers, and use your fingers—don’t use a comb, that makes it look too done or dressy. You want it to be either straight back, parallel from your eyes, or pull it slightly up from your ears to the middle of the crown of your head.
"If you go see a barber, you want to keep it in line—even if there’s messy pieces that, say, don’t reach that are part of the neckline, that’s okay. I think that helps it look soft and messy. You don’t want it to look too done. You want it to be natural around the hairline. Around your sideburn area, you’ll trim where your ear makes contact with your head, anything else should be tidy but not too done. Clean and organized but not styled. I hate when it looks planned out. If you’re going to have a beard and long hair, let it be natural. You want it to look free.”
By Max Berlinger
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