Fuss-free cuts are in for 2024. We’ve seen the unstructured messy look dominate the red carpet – Timothée Chalamet and Austin Butler, we’re looking at you – while Gen Z are still enamoured with the naturally floppy TikTok hair that reigned supreme last year. Now, Harry Styles is putting the spotlight on another uncomplicated cut: the classic short-back-and-sides.
Styles is no stranger to a hair transformation. From the bouncy boyband curls to his shoulder-length locks, all the way through to the sexy-pushed-back hair he had during his Love on Tour shows, he’s had pretty much every hairstyle going. Then, at the end of 2023, he was seen at a U2 concert with girlfriend Taylor Russell with his most divisive yet: a buzzcut.
Months later, it seems the Grammy award winner is growing out his hair once more. Last week’s Premier League match between Luton Town and Manchester United, marked the hard launch of his new hair. He was spotted in the crowd sporting short sides with a little volume on top, keeping it soft around the ears and neckline for a finish reminiscent of noughties Jude Law.
As you’d expect from the guy who can pull off everything, it works. Which, this time, makes total sense. Let’s just think about all of the men who have made the short-back-and-sides work over the years. Jamie Dornan. David Beckham. Colin Farrell. Bradley Cooper. Ben Affleck. Zac Efron. George Clooney. Brad Pitt. Need we say more? It’s a one-size-fits-all style that never misses, especially when you reach your thirties – a milestone Styles himself celebrated earlier this month.
“It’s masculine, sharp and essentially recreates the ‘ideal’ silhouette. It’s a great way to balance face shape and create a stronger form,” says Sam McKnight, the globally renowned hair stylist. “There’s no strict formula – make it your own and try different variations to find your look.”
Though it’s a style that suits almost everyone, it’s not often considered ‘cool’. In the sixties, it became the standard dress-code for office-based white-collar workers (at this time, it was a slicked-back look as you see in Mad Men). Ever since, the style has been lumped in with bankers and corporate types – and, styled incorrectly, it can look a little CEO-core.
But it can, in some cases, look surprisingly good. When you’re getting the chop, leave it a little longer on the sides – steering clear of a fade – and introduce some extra texture with your styling. A matt clay will take it out of the boardroom and deliver a choppier, rugged finish, whilst a pomade would channel Don Draper himself (even he has at least a number five on the sides).
“Keep it in shape with regular trims. It’s a cut where a few millimetres makes a difference, so every six weeks is ideal,” says McKnight. “For a groomed and polished finish à la Hollywood movie star, go for a creme pomade. Or, for a matte, imperfectly mussed up look choose a soft clay. Lightweight, buildable and easily reworkable, it’s a go-to for perfectly undone styles.”
A straightforward cut that’s sharp, stylish and straightforward, we predict a lot of men will be following in Styles’ footsteps this year. If you’re one of them, our list of the best barbers in London will help secure your scissor-shaped fate.
