Along with making pristine pop, hitmaker Justin Bieber also has a sharp eye when it comes to streetwear-inspired style. His madcap blend of tie-dye, sliders and logo tees merged into what has popularly been dubbed scumbro, a look so wrong on paper that fashion scientists are still scratching there heads as to why it feels so right when you’re scrolling down the ‘gram.
The look is capped off by Bieber’s ever-changing rotation of hairstyles. Some cuts have missed, but when Bieber hits you’re sure as hell likely to see that cut copied up and down the streets by his legion of fans. Here we present Justin Bieber’s best hairstyles, his greatest follicular hits if you will, and ask top barber James Hooker, a stylist at the Liberty branch of British barbershop chain Ruffians how you too can get the look.
The Platinum Fade
From Channing Tatum to Zac Efron, a whole host of A-listers have dyed their hair platinum to varying levels of success. Bieber is on the successful end, combining the sprightly shade with a spry undercut linking up with his wholesome boyish face for a cut straight out of teen idol heaven.
“Ask your barber for a fade from a two to four on the sides with the top disconnected to achieve the fohawk,” says Hooker. “This style works best with thinner straight hair, thicker hair would need thinning out. Use sea salt spray in towel-dried hair, blow drying to the desired side and finish with a pomade or paste, applied with fingers to the root to give that unwashed look.”
The Undercut Sweep Back
While there might be more than a little of our favourite pokemon, Pidgeot, in this style from Biebs, we’re very much enjoying the soft and less severe dye job. According to Hooker, this is down to the dark roots growing out and softening the contrast between the platinum and his dark features.
“This would be a grade two or three on the sides but ask the barber not to sharpen or shape the edges,” he says. “This androgynous, purposefully messy look can be achieved using sea-salt spray applied to the root, first blow drying it forward and then back to provide greater volume. Apply a pomade or paste to the roots, leaving the ends softer and less defined. Tussle and manipulate without too much fuss to achieve this just-out-of-bed look.”
Grungy Long Hair
Plaid shirts ripped jeans, beanies – grunge style hasn’t been this trendy since 1992. And Bieber has gone and grown his locks to match his new-found rockstar-meets-surfer-dude image.
“Have it kept the same length all over, texturizing the ends for a messier unkempt look,” says Hooker. “No need for layering here, just plenty of texturizing. Apply a volume mousse or cream to towel-dried hair and sea-salt spray throughout.
“Either allow drying naturally for that just off the surf feel or scrunch dry it with a hair dryer. If you want to go one step further, add a pomade or paste to the roots with your fingers for the ultimate long day at the beach look.”
The Buzz Cut
Blonde tinge on a buzz cut with a diamond earring gleaming away. Is that you, Slim? Nope, it’s just the real Justin Bieber keepin’ it real with one of the easiest to manage hairstyles around. The severeness of the cut can highlight and exaggerate your facial features, but this slightly longer buzz cut softens the look with the longer sideburns drawing the eye down to Bieber’s square jawline.
“Ask for a grade two, or if you want a bit more skin showing a grade one,” says Hooker. “No need for a product with this style, but if you did want to define it, add some paste to take away the fluffiness.”
The Mod Mop
