MAN HAIR STYLE TIPS

Guys, have I got good news for you. We've arrived at a day and age when it's the person who wears the haircut and style, rather than the other way around. I know, I know, so much emphasis is placed on a guy's hairstyle, and so it should be; only now, less emphasis is placed on that must-have hairdo every man is sporting.
There are still the dos and don'ts of men's hair, and there will always be more popular trends, but you no longer have to conform to the latest greatest hairstyle that promises to make you look like the heartthrob the ladies are swooning over, or every male model you see in glossy magazine spreads.

Man Hair Styles
I consulted with male hairstylist Ferdinando from Le Pascha men's grooming center, who relayed the good news to me. When I asked him what the latest hair trends are, his enthusiastic response was, "Everything!" So what does that mean for you? It means that it all depends on your head shape, hair texture, and facial features; it's therefore important to get the haircut and style that's specifically suited to you. But that doesn't mean you can't go through some trial and error to help pinpoint the do that's perfect for you.

In order to give you some inspiration of different hairstyles or cuts, here are some examples of cuts you can try on for size.

Short takes
Most of today's male celebrities have taken the shorter route, with all-around short, "neat" hair. It's no fuss, and might simply require some pomade or a similar grooming product to give it a bit of style. It all depends on how short you want to go, as there's short and then there's the almost shaven, almost crew cut -- both are acceptable.

One look that is popular with short hair is reminiscent of that 1950s hairdo, achieved by combing back your "fronts" (your girlfriend surely refers to them as bangs) and making them "lean over" slightly to the side -- a hairstyling product will give your hair the hold it may need.

Medium messiness
You can also sport a medium-length hairdo. Whether it's longer at the back and more controlled on top or medium-length throughout is up to you -- but it's more about what you choose to do with it. You could make it messy and give it that "just got out of bed look," or you could wear it natural and let it fall as it would. Just add some pomade or any styling product that will give your hair some texture and movement.

Some styling suggestions for this length:
A "shaggy" look, with hair cut fine and fronts completely swept to one side, rather than parted in the middle.
Style your hair with a quasi-mohawk (really!), by adding pomade to emphasize the hair in the middle of your head so that it sticks up more than the rest of your hair. But there shouldn't be too much of a difference between this so-called mohawk and the rest of your hair. This ain't no '80s mohawk.
More hairstyles for long-haired guys, bald guys and black guys, and the dos and don'ts you've been waiting for...

Longer lengths
Long hair is also making waves, as long as it's lean and looks sheared, and not as thick as your sister's flowing locks. By lean I mean that it should hang straight down, and not have the thickness and volume women crave. You can take the length to any extreme you like -- from chin-length to shoulder-length -- it all depends on what looks best on you and how much maintenance you're up for.

A style you could try:
Have your hair "razor cut" so that the thickness in the back and sides is removed, giving it a leaner look. This looks great with both thick and straight hair.

Bald boldness
For those of you with a receding hairline, the best way to work with what you've got is by having the front of your hair cut very short, with the rest of your hair short all around. While you can get some outside help from medical and natural hair-loss remedies, you might eventually need to know how to wear it as best you can.

For those of you who are balding, shaving it all off is the best look for you. You can do it yourself with a razor or go to your hairdresser to get the job done -- whatever you choose, the average time span you should wait between shaves is five days.

African-American answers
Again, as I stated before, anything goes in terms of hairstyles, it's all about what suits you best. With that in mind, whether you wear your hair longer like Lenny Kravitz or shorter like Denzel Washington, you have to find the do that suits you.

If you work in a professional environment, then I think short is the way to go: It's sophisticated and no-nonsense. A longer, wild style is also pretty cool, but goes with a trendier, rock-star image, and is better suited for younger men.

While a shorter style will emphasize your facial features, you might be surprised to read that the longer hairdo will also underscore the features you love most.

Hair Coloring
Where men's hair color is concerned, "natural" is the word of the day. This means that if you are going to highlight your hair, make it one shade lighter or darker with subtler streaks that still add some jazz to your hair. This is a great look to go for if you desire a bit of change and are bored with your everyday image, but don't want to do anything too drastic -- remember, nothing is permanent.

Frosted tips are also in style, but are usually more popular for the younger dudes rather than young professionals.

Man Hair Style Dos and Don'ts
Here's a rundown of the don'ts in men's hairstyles. Although everything is in, there are always exceptions...

Crazy sideburns. Stick to classic sideburns as opposed to the kind that take over your face or have a life of their own. The average length of a classic sideburn is the middle point of your ear, but this can be adjusted according to your facial features and head shape. (Note: Longer sideburns can actually make your face look more narrow, while sideburns that are shorter than mid-ear length can have the opposite effect. You heard it here first, folks.)

Ponytails. While long hair is in style, tying your hair back is not. If your long hair is lean, as it should be, you shouldn't have to keep it out of your face.

Mullets. They made a brief comeback in 2001, but to the relief of many, their fame is limited to the '80s.

Colored hair. Leave the blues, greens, pinks, and purples to your box of Lucky Charms cereal. Don't change the entire hue of your hair.

I hope you now have enough inspiration to get out there and either change your hairstyle to one that will make you feel great, or are already the proud owner of the one you currently sport. Remember that while it's great to get ideas from the media and celebrities, the looks you see on the runway or magazine models are not the ones that can usually be applied to the regular guy.

Take advantage of the fact that many different styles are presently fashionable, and get the one best suited to highlight your facial features, the shape of your head, and your overall look. With that in mind, you'll look better than your peers... by more than a hair.