If you’d asked most people a decade or two ago whether they’d want to copy the hairstyle of a boyband member turned solo artist, the answer would have probably been a firm no (sorry Robbie, Justin, et al). But now it’s a different story. Such is the charm of Zayn, or more specifically, Zayn’s mane.
The 24-year-old ex-Directioner is well known for reinventing his personal style on the regular and that experimentation extends to his hair, which in recent years has included everything from blonde streaks and buzz cuts to curtains and colour switch-ups.
‘The Malik’ (whatever that may be at the time) is now a go-to request at barbers. So to recreate some of Zayn’s most high-profile hairdos, we tapped up Denis Robinson, artistic director of Ruffians, to find out what to ask for when in the chair and how to style it at home.
Grown Out High And Tight
What To Ask For
Start with a high and tight cut and let it grow out for four weeks, then have the back and sides clippered to smarten it back up. This is a versatile hairstyle but it quickly loses shape so book regular trims to keep it looking sharp.
How To Style
Work a medium shine clay through the hands properly and apply when hair is fully dry to avoid getting any clumps and ending up with an early Gareth Gates spiky style.
Low Tight Undercut And Bouffant
What To Ask For
This is more of an in-between styles style. For the cut without the colour, ask for a low disconnected fade. This helps when growing your hair out by reducing weight around the hairline and allowing the top to grow fuller and longer.
How To Style
For the full volume look, dry the hair upside down then style with a mixture of styling paste and volumizing powder. It’ll keep the look full and give a dry yet give a flexible finish.
Loose Layers With Disconnect
What To Ask For
Hair is point- or razor-cut throughout to create a loose, feathered look that moves easily. Tell the barber to take things shorter through the back and sides with soft graduation for added shape, keeping one side slightly longer with weight removed.
How To Style
Apply either a mousse or salt spray to damp hair, keeping the back and sides flat. Dry to about 80 per cent then apply pomade or a wax with a soft, shiny finish, working through to give texture
Jarhead
What To Ask For
The buzz cut style is a dramatic look but one that can be carried off by anyone with defined facial features, which will be accentuated by such a strong short cut. Have the low hairline faded in shorter to give both the hair and head contour.
How To Style
This style needs weekly maintenance and trimming to keep looking fresh, but no product is required to style. Just remember suncream when outside as the head will have less cover.
Undercut Wedge
What To Ask For
This cut is a nod to 1980s fashion and is currently very popular. Opt for either short all-over underneath or a softer graduated length, and for one side of the hair to be left much longer to allow it to hang down.
How To Style
Dry flat and forward, combing through with a paddle brush. Once dry, sweep over to the longer side using the hand and a small amount of low-hold gel or paste. Use the minimal product as too much combined with the hair sitting on the face can cause block pores and breakouts.
Alternative Undercut
What To Ask For
This is a cross between Elvis and a young Sean Penn. Ask for the undercut section to be clipped from a number one up to weight around the divide. There are no rules as to the difference in lengths between the underneath and top sections, but as a general guideline, the top length should be three times longer than the longest part of the undercut.
How To Style
Add mousse while damp and dry using a hairdryer with a diffuser attached to create volume at the front while keeping the back flat, then style with gel for sheen and hold. Everyone will want to touch this style. (Don’t let them.)
