Curly hair on men can be tricky to work with – especially when it’s got some length to it. It’s tempting to go just back to shorter hair. Before you go for that “chopping off” option, it’s worth reconsidering – seeing your natural waves as an opportunity for you to think out of the box and have fun with styling.

To help you tame your mid-length curls into a model-esque ‘do, we got some tips from hair guru Annika Bowen. This Melbourne-based hairstylist has worked with men’s hair of many different lengths and textures, and she happily shared with us some steps on how to style curls for men. These steps are based off the look spotted on the Hermes spring 2014 men’s runway show, which featured several models with chin-length curls.

Follow the steps after the break to replicate this look, noting that these are aimed at men with naturally curly or wavy hair.

How to style mid-length curly hair for men

Starting with wet hair, use a curl cream like Label.M Curl Cream or Tigi Curl Rocks to define your curls. Rub about 1-2 pumps on both hands and apply to hair using a scrunching technique.

Note: You can also twist small sections throughout your whole head to help define your curls more. You can also use big clamp clips to hold scrunched sections in place while letting hair dry.

Next, you can either let hair dry naturally or diffuse with hairdryer.

Create texture on your hair by spraying either sea salt spray (both Label.M and Tigi have one) or Label.M curl spray. Again, you can let your hair dry naturally or use a diffuser.

This step is very important but can be a bit scary for guys (feel free to ask for help from a lady). Once your hair has dried, use a curling iron and curl random sections of your hair. To do this, you’ll have to wrap your hair around the curling iron and hold it for about 5-10 seconds then release. This creates clean and defined curls, especially if your hair is only wavy and not naturally tightly curled.

Take some wax of your choice (matt wax/paste with a bit of hold works best – Annika recommends Label.M matte paste or Tigi B For Men matte separation wax) then apply a small amount into the palm of your hands. Rub your hands together and then scrunch the product into the mid lengths and ends of your hair to style it into your desired shape. On the Hermes runway, a side part was used though you can place the part wherever works best with your face shape.

Working with moderately long and curly hair may mean you’ll have to put some extra work into styling it but once you’ve seen the results, you’ll know that the hard work or effort you’ve put into it is worth it. Extra work simply means extra heads will turn as you walk down the street.

Source : fashionising[dot]com