Men’s event styling: Modern hair and grooming ideas
Our guide to looking sharp for special occasions.
When we see Hollywood’s leading men posing at a film premiere, it may seem like they just donned a tuxedo, ran a comb through their hair and jumped in a limo, but there’s actually a lot more that goes on behind the scenes to get these guys looking red carpet-ready.
“A lot of time, effort and prep goes into making it looking effortless,” says Paul Edmonds. “They didn't just wake up looking like that.”
The same goes for facial hair, says Hayley Kemm, men’s hair expert at Paul Edmonds London. “Beards take a lot of care. Some people like their beard to be straight, some like it to be natural, and moustaches are very in at the minute, so you've got to style that too.”
Recently, Paul’s styling services were requested by an American A-list actor who was in town for a premiere. “I did Jake Gyllenhaal's hair for the opening of his sister's movie, The Bride. If you're doing red carpet stuff, normally actors want their hair cut on the day but they don't want it to look like it's been freshly cut, so they'll want it left slightly softer on the edges.”
Similarly, in the salon, Hayley and the team are used to working their magic on clients who want to look perfectly groomed for a special occasion. “It could be a wedding, a work event, or a big presentation they want to feel confident for. It could even be a date.”
Whatever the case, it’s about “projecting the best version of you,” Paul says – and that’s what a styling appointment at Paul Edmonds London will help you achieve.
Here, Hayley and Paul explain everything you need to know about event grooming for men, and offer three stylish ideas for how to style your hair for summer weddings or special occasions so that it stays in place all day…
WHY BOOK A PROFESSIONAL GROOMING APPOINTMENT?
There’s one key difference between a grooming and hair cutting appointments, Hayley says. “You don’t cut the hair, but everything else is the same. You have a consultation, we wash the hair – or sometimes we might only need to wet the hair – we might look at pictures for inspiration and we advise on product application.” Then Hayley will dry and style the hair according to the desired texture and finish, from curly to straight. “It takes time to create a look. I might use a brush, a diffuser or a comb.”
One of the major benefits of having a hairdresser style your hair is, Paul says, “you've got someone looking three-dimensionally at you – it's a full 360-degree view.” Plus, a stylist knows how to cocktail products to create the perfect texture. “A common mistake that guys make is thinking that if they towel-dry their hair and put loads of hair spray on it and it's going to hold, but it won’t. Very often you need a texture spray or salt spray first.”
An expert-approved combination of products will also ensure your carefully coiffed hair lasts all day, Hayley says. “With things like slicked-back looks, a lot of people think their hair's not capable of doing something like that, or they can’t get it to go curly, but we can do it with the right products.”
HOW SHOULD YOU GROOM A BEARD OR MOUSTACHE FOR A SPECIAL EVENT?
Beards have gone from being a celebrity-inspired trend to a mainstay in male grooming and an important part of getting styled for a special occasion.
“There's a whole art to trimming a beard,” Hayley says. “The hair's a lot coarser than the hair on your head and it takes longer to grow. With longer beards, it's mainly about shaping them, usually creating a tapered shape, but it's down to a client's personal preference.”
How often you should get your beard groomed is also a matter of choice, Hayley says. “I've got clients who will come in once a week for their beard because they want it to look a certain way for a whole week, but then I've got others who don't like it to look too groomed, or guys with longer beards where it has to be blow dried.”
What’s the most popular beard trend Hayley has seen recently? “The whole Italian beard thing, where it’s tapered on the sides, that's a huge trend, and a lot of guys have got just tashes at the minute.” A moustache has its own grooming requirements, she adds. “You've got to look at whether it should be level with the corner of the lip, whether it should be full of thinner, whether you have a line in the middle. There's so many different types.”
MEN’S EVENT HAIR STYLING IDEAS
Here are three men’s hairstyles for summer occasion styling and the products you’ll need to create them at home.
1. The Groomed Sweep
“This is like the old school Pompadour kind of look, which I love,” Hayley says of the sleek, swept-back style. “The hair needs to be slightly longer to get it slicked back.”
Start by towel-drying freshly washed hair and applying mousse or pomade. “It's got to be applied all the way down to the root to give the hair some grip so it holds in place.” Next, use a vented brush to brush the hair back as you blow dry it. “You want to create volume from the root, then slick it back, using the wide tooth comb and a wax like Shu Uemura Ishi Sculpt rather than a gel. Finish with Kumo Hold hair spray over the top to set it.”
2. The Textured Natural Finish
Midway between straight and curly, the textured finish look works on a variety of different hair lengths as long as you’ve got a bit of a wave in your hair to begin with.
“You need to use either a curl mousse or a curl styling product,” Paul says. Apply Oribe Curl Shaping Mousse to wet hair, he recommends. “It's really good for giving the hair moisturise and hold, so it won’t feel too crispy.”
At home, it’s best to use a diffuser or let your hair air-dry, while in salon, Hayley would use a hood dryer. “You don't want to spend too much time with heat on it or it can go fluffy. You want to reduce the fluffiness and get really nice glossy curl.” Finish by spritzing sea salt spray and scrunching the ends to add extra definition.
3. The Polished Side Part
A smart look for short to mid-length hair, this style sees the hair slicked back to one side and can be either sleek or volumised.
How do hairdressers decide the most flattering position for a side part? “The parting comes from the crown,” Hayley says. “Most of the time it's on the left hand side, but it could be on the right, depending on the client. We always take their hair back and then see where their natural parting falls.”
Starting with towel-dried hair, apply mousse and comb it through the hair, Hayley says. “Blow dry it back, then part it, slick it back with pomade and finish with hair spray.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How should men style their hair for an event?
With a salon grooming appointment, a hairdresser can advise on the best hairstyle for an event or special occasion.
What are the best men’s hairstyles for weddings or formal events?
This summer, three trending occasion hair styles for men are: the groomed sweep, the textured natural finish and the polished side part.
Do men need professional grooming for events?
A professional grooming appointment will ensure your hair and facial hair are perfectly styled, giving you confidence for special events.
How should you groom a beard for a formal event?
Whether styled at home or in salon, a beard should be neatly trimmed and shaped for a formal event.
Why Paul Edmonds London is the destination for men’s grooming
At Paul Edmonds London, our stylists are second to none when it comes to grooming men’s hair and facial hair for weddings, work events and parties.
Our men’s grooming team will use their skills to create a flattering look and ensure you look and feel your best, whatever the occasion.
Need to look sharp for an upcoming event? Book a grooming appointment at Paul Edmonds London.
