Expert Advice: The trends for longer men’s hair in summer ‘21

With us now out of lockdown, we have noticed a surge in men embracing their longer hair and coming into the salon for a trim or to have their long hair styled rather than a complete revamp with a lot of length being cut off. 

For 2021 it's all about modernising these longer hairstyles and also informing male clients to be aware of the extra TLC their long hair will require between appointments. 

Here are my three top modern long hairstyles for 2021 that we will see male clients requesting in salons and barbershops, and hair products we can suggest to clients to keep their long locks looking their very best and healthy between appointments.

Long curls and enhanced natural textures

Embracing the hair's natural texture is going to be very popular this year and we will see a lot of men loving their natural waves and curls. Giving your long haired curly clients a blunt trim will help accentuate the curls and enable them to be more manageable, as well free from frizz and flyaways, which are common with these hair types. 

To further keep curls and natural waves looking their best at home, smooth and healthy in appearance, styling is key. It's essential to recommend that curly haired clients in particular use a styling product such as a lotion, serum or light paste and distribute this through their hair with their fingers, giving the curls a more polished look and more body to their hair. 

This hairstyle also looks great when the curls are brushed out and some texturising product is applied to give the hair softness yet a lot of body and movement.

The modern mullet

The mullet is a hairstyle that is becoming back on trend for both men and woman in 2021. We've seen many celebrities sport this look and wearing the mullet more choppy in texture to give it a modern appearance. 

For 2021 this style looks more contemporary and best when worn a little bit shorter on the top and even shorter on sides but blended together seamlessly. This gives the hair a different texture and allows the client to be able to style their hair in a number of different ways. 

The versatility of this haircut is one of the best things about it; the client can wear it slicked back with a gel or serum or they can use a texturising spray or mattifying product to give the style added texture and body. 

With this hairstyle maintenance is key and it will require regular trips to the salon to keep the fade looking its best. This hairstyle also looks great worn natural, so a great recommendation for clients is to spray some leave in conditioner into their hair and leave to air dry to provide the hair with nourishment and keep the longer section of their hair looking its best and free from split ends.

Bowl cut

The bowl cut is back for 2021 but with a fresh approach, longer and thicker in appearance. This is great for men who love a more retro inspired haircut and who like wearing their hair more sleek and smooth in appearance that natural and textured. This hairstyle is also great for framing the face and showing off facial features and is a particularly good hairstyle for showing off colour if your client likes to opt for bolder and dimensional hair colours. 

With this haircut it's important that clients are using a good quality shampoo and conditioner to keep their hair smooth and shiny, as well as regular hair masks to keep split ends at bay and hair free from damage.

Jim Shaw is an award-winning men's hairdresser, and owner of Toni&Guy Billericay.