2012′s key men’s hairstyles and haircuts 2012′s key men’s hairstyles and haircuts

While the list of haircuts and hairstyles above is dedicated to the key men’s hair trends for 2012, they’re not the only ones. As always with men’s hairstyles, there are variations on themes and altogether different looks that, while mainstream, aren’t fresh or which specifically appeal to men with a particular taste. I put together all the how to and styling information that you’ll need for each of the hairstyles. This is them:

2011 may have given us a completely fresh decade, but it’s in 2012 that we truly get to explore it. If the last decade was all about buzz terms prefixed by man and metro (think manscaping and metrosexual), then 2012 is all about exploring a masculine edge. Sure it’s refined, but there have been only a few periods in recent history where true masculinity didn’t come with a polished edge. Thus we leave behind a period where men and boy bands alike head to a hairstylist for the latest fandangled chemical straightening technique and instead, for those of them with curly hair, can opt for something au naturel. Natural, but no less stylish.

And natural is, effectively, where the short and curly hairstyle sits in 2012. Entangled, interlocked, and messy, it’s a hairstyle that not only connotes a relaxed lifestyle but is itself relaxed.

Long, curly hair with short sides on the Dolce & Gabbana men’s spring 2012 catwalk

Of course, the nature of curls is that they come in all degrees of severity, some tight and compact, others softer but no less prone to doing whatever the hell they like no matter how much product you seem to put in your hair. The dominant men’s curly hairstyle of 2012 is a look that captures some of what the quiff offers, but it does so with far less height and with little effort to relax or straighten the curls.

Wavy hair with short sides on the Dolce & Gabbana men’s spring 2012 catwalk

Who it is for

• A natural hairstyle for those naturally curly, or at least those with a head of seriously wavy hair. Don’t try and fake curls – this is a hairstyle that will work with natural, curly hair only.

How it’ll be cut

• Like most of 2012’s men’s hair trends, it’s going to be cut shorter on the sides and longer on the top. The length will all come down to what suits you best, however.
• If you have tight curls and are after that is something easy to manage, ask your hairdresser to use clipper 1 and chop off your curls really close to the scalp. This would be easier to manage.
• Other option is to keep the length, as this would give each hair strand its curly bend.

How to style it

• Styling is essential here. Curly hair is most prone to frizzy ends, especially during the summer months. To prevent this, apply a curl controller cream to wet hair and run your fingers through it.
• While other 2012 hairstyles make great use of it, stay away from hardening gels with this particular hairstyle as they’ll solidify and make the curls look brittle.

Short curls hairstyle with short sides on the Dolce & Gabbana men’s spring 2012 catwalk