Sea salt spray adds texture to hair, creating beachy waves and providing a light, flexible hold on hair. It’s a great addition to many textured looks. Keep your fringe between 1 inch (2. 5 cm) and 3 inches (7. 6 cm) long. A longer fringe tends to work best with thick hair and creates a tousled look, while a shorter fringe works with any hair thickness and looks neater. You could also try a French crop, sometimes called a “Caesar” haircut, which simply means a longer fringe on top. It’s great for covering up receding hairlines since the hair flops forward over the forehead.
Pomade can be greasy, waxy, or water-based. Along with hair gel, it helps give your hair a slick, shiny appearance. Quiff cuts feature shorter sides and longer hair on top, angled forward and brushed upwards and backward from the forehead. If you need extra help getting the look to hold all day, spritz on some strong-hold hairspray when you’re done styling.
You could even ask for a fade at the barber if you only want to worry about styling the top of your head.
Once your hair is styled, you can always set it in place with some holding hairspray. To achieve the pompadour look, you’ll need hair on top of your head at least 5 inches (13 cm) long, tapering back to 3 inches (7. 6 cm) at the back of your head. You can choose the side length of your hair, though it’s usually quite short for the best effect.
The difference between the faux hawk and mohawk is that there’s still hair on the sides of your head, trimmed short, while the hair on top of your head is at least 3 inches (7. 6 cm) long. If you want a genuine mohawk, use very firm gel to shape and hold your look.
You can also achieve this look if your hair is more curly or unruly; blow-drying while combing at the same time will straighten your hair enough to create a wave effect.
Hair oil has a nourishing, hydrating effect while also making your hair sleek and easier to brush back. Complete the look with a few spritzes of strong-hold hairspray if you need help getting your hair to hold its slicked-back shape long-term. This look works with either grown-out sides (meaning the hair on the side of your head has some length) or an undercut (meaning the sides of your head are shaved or buzzed very short).
Using your fingers to comb and shape your hair also creates a messy, tousled vibe that’s effortlessly cool. This style is easy to touch up throughout the day; just brush your hair to the side with your fingers if you notice it starting to lie flat.
You can further style your spiky hair if you want. Twist a few spikes with your fingers to give your hair a messy bedhead look, or comb down the sides of your hair for a more polished vibe.
Hair cream eliminates frizz, gives your hair some extra shine, and makes it easier to shape and style the way you like it. Pair the curly fringe with a fade on the back and sides of your hair if you’re looking for a modern spin on textured curls. Your curly hair can be as long or short as you want—though it should ideally have a little length to create a tousled bedhead look.
In a low tapered cut, the hair gets gradually shorter, starting just above the ears. This look works best when your hair already has a little natural body. Before getting this cut, the hair should be at least a few inches long on top of your head. You don’t have to part your hair in any particular spot to get this look. Let your hair part naturally and style it from there.
While 3 inches (7. 6 cm) is typically the minimum for length, a flow style can be longer than that. It’s up to you! Hair type is also not a problem when getting a flowing look; it works with straight, wavy, and curly hair. Spritz some sea salt spray into straight hair if you want to make it look wavier.
