The days of a five-minute chop job are over. Turns out we men do give two snips about our hair, and we’re increasingly paying attention to trends up top. Which makes sense considering a bad haircut is the one poor style choice you can’t shrug off at the end of the day. A good cut (and quality styling products to shape it) is what keeps us looking our best.
Nobody knows that better than Uppercut Deluxe. Inspired by the classic cuts of 1950s America, the men’s haircare label began in 2009 as an alternative to the bog-standard products available on the market at the time. Founders Luke Newman and Steve Purcell were keen to reignite traditional barbershop culture, but didn’t stand a chance without the right tools – so they made their own. With a range comprising hair pomades, waxes and shaving products, the Australian brand quickly caught the attention of partners worldwide. We sat down with one of its UK ambassadors, Chris Brownless – owner of North West Barber Co. and expert barber – to talk everything from 2017’s key hair trends to the importance of barbershop culture. FashionBeans: We’ve seen a real resurgence in classic, old-school cuts – like the pompadour – in recent years. Why do you think these became popular again? Chris Brownless: “The timeless style of eras like the 1920s and 1950s played a big part in the revival of traditional cuts. And for that, we’ve got to thank shows like Peaky Blinders and Boardwalk Empire. I’ve spoken to so many guys that label both as an influence, and along with the rise of social media, we now have a huge source of inspiration at our fingertips. It’s cool when a client brings in a photo of a haircut by another barber that they found on Instagram. Google searches for men’s hairstyles actually outperformed those for women’s this year too, which shows just how aware men are becoming. “These old-school styles often entail a lot of maintenance, though. Twelve months ago, a large proportion of guys wanted slick-backs and pompadours, and while there’s still a demand for these, they need a lot of product, regular cuts and longer hair to play with – three things that can be a chore for most men.” Are there any other trends you’ve noticed from the barber’s chair this year? “Traditional styles are still fairly popular and I think they always will be in our barbershop. Some customers will have the same cut until they’re 85 – it’s become part of their identity and it’s easy to stick with what you know, right? “People like the fact that there are finishing techniques that stand the test of time – the fade, tapered necklines, a short back and sides. These are techniques which have been around since the 1920s; they’re timeless. “But we’ve also found that more and more men are now requesting extreme takes on classic styles: undercuts, disconnected sides, etc. Sometimes we have to talk people out of them, when we see that the request is more of a novelty than realistic or wouldn’t work with their hair texture/growth patterns. Going back to the TV example, a 1920s-esque Peaky Blinders hairstyle will not always work with the client’s lifestyle – and that’s a big thing for us. “Some of the first things I ask a new client are: what do you do for work, what are your hobbies, do you use a hairdryer and how long do you want to spend on your haircut every morning? That’s how I determine a suitable suggestion for both hairstyle and Uppercut Deluxe product. We don’t want to dictate, but we are here to advise and need to offer our expertise – that’s what the barber service is all about.”