Avid 30 Rock fans will realize that the title of this post is a direct quote from none other than Jack Donaghy. And the man has a point.
Too many times I’ve seen a man impeccably dressed, only to have his hair ruin the entire ensemble. You can’t look like a well-put together gentleman with the hair of a 12-year-old. So here are a few tips to get you started down the road of adulthood hair, Jack Donaghy-style:
Find a Barber
Unfortunately, the barbershop has faded into irrelevance as the men in our culture have begun to seek out cheaper, unisex salons. The problem with these places (as I’m sure we’ve all experienced) is that they have a rotating staff — meaning your hair comes out looking differently every time even if you ask for the same thing.
A good barber will get to know you, and more importantly, he’ll get to know your hair. And he’ll know exactly how you want it each time you walk in the door.
For information on how to choose a barber, check out these guides by GQ and The Art of Manliness. I also found TAofM’s Barbershop Locator to be quite helpful.
Choose a Style
This step is a little more difficult, because what style looks good on you won’t look good on the next guy. So don’t just assume because you see a guy on TV with a haircut you like your barber will be able to make you look the same. A good barber should be able to recommend a hairstyle that looks good on you.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t tell him what you like and what you don’t like. For instance, if you’re a big fan of the show Mad Men (who isn’t?) and want to pull off an old-school style like that, your barber should be able to work with you. In the meantime, this guide should get you started.
And once again, GQ also has an excellent guide to different hairstyles and how to pull them off.
Choose a Product
Different men will swear by different hair products, and rightly so. They don’t come in one-size-fits-all models. It depends on what you’d like your hair to do (see above).
So I’m not going to say to go out and buy any specific type of hair product. But I will say that I’ve been a fan of John Allan’s hair products for years, especially the pomades Blu and Matte.
Spend Some Time
I’m not saying you have to take as long as your significant other doing your hair, but don’t just wake up and go either. Treat the top of your head like it should be treated: as a detail that makes or breaks your look.
