What’s the Best Way to Style Messy Haircuts?
Messy haircuts have become one of the most popular trends in men’s hairstyles. Whether you’re aiming for a rugged, tousled look or a carefree, textured style, a messy haircut offers versatility and easy maintenance. However, styling it in a way that enhances its natural texture while keeping it controlled can sometimes be a challenge. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the best ways to style messy haircuts, ensuring that you look effortlessly cool while keeping things low-maintenance.
1. Start with a Good Haircut
Why It’s Important: The foundation of styling messy haircuts starts with a well-cut hairstyle. A good haircut is crucial to achieving that perfect balance of messy and stylish. Your barber should work with the natural texture of your hair to create layers, texturing, and shape that will make it easy to style. A messy haircut without the proper shape can end up looking more unkempt than intentional.
Textured Layers: Layers will break up the bulk of thick hair, making it more manageable and allowing for easy styling.
Shaggy Cuts: A shaggy or choppy haircut can make it easier to achieve that perfect messy look.
Length Considerations: Make sure your barber is aware of how long you want the top, sides, and back, as this will determine how messy and voluminous the final look will be.
2. Use the Right Products for Texture
Why It Works: The key to styling messy haircuts is the right styling product. Depending on your hair type and desired look, there are various products that can add texture, volume, and hold. Choosing the right product is essential to creating that effortless, tousled look without over-styling or weighing your hair down.
Texturizing Paste or Cream: For a matte, natural finish, a texturizing paste or cream is ideal. This type of product helps define your hair without making it look greasy.
Sea Salt Spray: Sea salt spray can give your hair extra volume and texture. It’s perfect for creating a beachy, tousled look.
Pomade or Wax: If you want a bit of shine and hold, consider using pomade or wax. These products are great for giving your hair a bit of definition and control.
Hair Mousse: For a voluminous and bouncy messy look, mousse can lift and add fullness to your hair.
3. Dry Your Hair Properly
Why It Works: How you dry your hair plays a major role in how your messy haircut will turn out. After washing your hair, instead of towel-drying it completely, leave it a bit damp. Then, use a blow dryer on a low heat setting to dry your hair in the direction that best suits the style you’re going for.
Air Dry for Natural Texture: If you want to keep it as natural as possible, simply towel-dry your hair and allow it to air dry. This will help maintain the hair's natural texture.
Blow Dry for Volume: For more volume, blow-dry your hair while scrunching it gently with your fingers. The heat will help lift the hair at the roots, giving it that messy, voluminous look.
4. Embrace the Messiness with Finger Styling
Why It Works: Messy haircuts are all about that laid-back, effortlessly cool look. The key to achieving that is to avoid over-styling. Instead of using combs or brushes, embrace finger styling. Use your fingers to tousle your hair and create the texture you want, without worrying too much about precision.
Tousle with Fingers: After applying your product, use your fingers to run through your hair, lifting it at the roots and creating volume.
Light Scrunching: If you want more curl or wave, lightly scrunch your hair as you work through the styling product. This will create more definition in messy haircuts.
Less Is More: The goal is to look like you just rolled out of bed (in a good way). Don’t worry if your hair looks a little uneven—that’s part of the charm.
5. Use a Light Hold for Flexibility
Why It Works: While messy haircuts benefit from some hold to keep everything in place, you don’t want to use a heavy product that will make your hair stiff or too structured. Opt for a light-hold product that allows flexibility, so your hair can move naturally without losing its shape.
Light-Hold Gel or Mousse: These products will give your hair a flexible hold, so it stays messy but doesn’t fall flat.
Avoid Overuse: Apply just a small amount and build up if necessary. Too much product will weigh the hair down and eliminate the messy look.
6. Maintain Regular Trims
Why It’s Important: Messy haircuts require regular maintenance to keep them looking fresh. As your hair grows, the layers may lose their shape, and the texture may get harder to manage. Scheduling regular trims with your barber ensures that the messy style remains stylish and manageable.
Trim Every 4-6 Weeks: To keep your haircut looking sharp and in shape, aim for a trim every month or so.
Layer Maintenance: If you have layers, regular trims will help maintain the shape and prevent your hair from becoming too bulky or heavy.
Conclusion
Styling messy haircuts is all about embracing texture, volume, and a carefree approach to hair styling. Whether you’re going for a textured crop, shaggy layers, or tousled waves, the right products, styling techniques, and regular trims are key to pulling off the look. With the right guidance from your barber, you can achieve a stylish, low-maintenance haircut that complements your personality and lifestyle.
At In The Cut Barbershop in Vancouver, our skilled barbers specialize in crafting the perfect messy haircut that suits your unique style. Book an appointment today, and let us help you achieve the effortlessly cool look you’ve been aiming for!
