A lot of people have changed men’s haircuts over the years. You can search for “men’s hairstyle inspiration” and find millions of pictures of styles worn by famous people like Clark Gable and Paul Newman, Brad Pitt and David Beckham, George Clooney and Madame de Pompadour, and many more. What the hell? What do you know about the French royal family?
The same thing. She made the pompadour haircut, now one of the best haircuts for guys ever, even though she wasn’t a man. King Louis XV of France’s primary lover was Madame de Pompadour. Even though it’s been over two hundred years, men worldwide still love her tall hairstyle.
HOW DO YOU GET YOUR HAIR CUT IN A POMPADOUR?
There was a lot of acid in the Madame’s. We’ve grown to love the pompadour haircut, just hair pulled up and back over the head. It is kept close to the head and brushed along the sides and back. With the longer hair in front, you can style it into a mound or a quiff.
It’s not complicated. A French woman created the pompadour, which can be worn in many ways.
Guys of all ages, tastes, and work schedules can wear this style because it comes in many cuts and tweaks. What other style could work so well for Becks (a football player) and Mark Kermode (a film critic), whose tastes are so different?
This article tells you everything you need to know about the pompadour, from how it started to how to get one and keep it looking great.
HOW THE POMPADOUR CAME TO BE
Before the 1950s, the pompadour was worn mainly by women. Elvis Presley was the first great man to wear this look well. He liked his hair as greasy as his food. In the 1950s and 1960s, James Dean, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Little Richard were some of the first male stars to wear their hair up. They proved that guys could wear this style, too.
You could make the case that Elvis liked the pompadour haircut because many women liked it. Presley is widely believed to have liked the pompadour because of its unrealistically large shape. But until the 1940s, only women wore them. Some might see the King’s choice to wear them as a deliberate violation of social norms. (Bowie, smoke that with your nice pipe.)
In the late 1970s, many guys just wanted to let their hair grow out and (maybe) wash it occasionally. This group of guys no longer liked the pompadour’s tight shape.
But when psychobilly came along in the 1980s, the style was back in style.
The pompadour is still one of the best hairstyles for guys, even though it’s often not worn in its original form. Models Jon Kortajarena, Zayn Malik, and Zac Efron proudly sport this look.
WHAT YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT BEFORE YOU GET A POMPADOUR HAIRCUT
Are you interested? Before you tell your barber you want a pompadour haircut, here are some things to consider.
TYPE OF HAIR
Before we get into which hair types look best with a pompadour, it’s important to note that you shouldn’t get one unless you have a lot of hair. You should have at least 4-6 cm of hair at the tip and enough hair elsewhere. If your hairline is receding or thinning on top, you should avoid this style that hits your forehead and instead try a shorter style that looks better, like the French crop.
Lloyd Hughes, leader of the award-winning guys-ü brand, says, “The pompadour haircut looks good on men with straighter hair.” “But that doesn’t mean people with curly or wavy hair can’t wear it either; it just means that the style will have a slightly different shape on them.”
If your hair is straight, it will be easier to shape it into a standard pompadour. If your hair is thick and curly or wavy, on the other hand, this natural kink will let you make more textured styles.
LENGTH AND CUT OF HAIR
Getting the proper cut is the most important for making a great pompadour. It’s just as important to have enough hair in the right places as it is to have enough hair.
“It’s all about that weight distribution,” Adam Gore, who started Barberology and won the 2016 Oscar for Best Barbershop of the Year, says. “Make sure your hair is long enough in the right places to keep the style. The top should be at least 6 cm long, and the sides can be as short or long as you like.”
SHAPE OF FACE
Hughes says, “The pompadour looks great on faces with a wide jawline and high cheekbones.” “A good stylist should know a few tricks to make any face shape look longer or wider,” he says. This is good for people who aren’t quite the right shape for a cover model.
Is your face longer? An Aveda master barber says you should leave more hair on the sides and cut it short to just below the crown of your head. This will lessen the big difference between your hair on top and the rest of your head. “But for round faces, hair on the sides and back of the head should be kept very short and clipped to a point higher up the crown. This looks like an undercut, making round faces look taller and thinner.”
FACIAL HAIR
Historically, the pompadour looked best with a clean-shaven face. But in recent years, many beard-loving guys have shown that this cut looks good with or without fuzz on the face.
Nicolaou says, “A beard can make a modern pompadour stand out.” “However, it’s important that the length and shape of your beard match the shape and length of your hair.” A long beard and a round face should make your face look longer. Your pompadour’s quiff should be the same length as your beard.
That being said, there’s nothing wrong with styling your hair in a classic pompadour with long hair on the sides. But if you don’t want to look like Wolverine, get a separate pompadour and clip your short hair on the sides and back. This will make your pompadour stand out more against the length of your beard.
Different kinds of pompadour hairstyles
These are some of the most common pompadours you can use as ideas if you want to try this style on yourself.
1. THE MOST CLASSIC POMPADOUR
Do you want to style your hair like Elvis? Then this pompadour is the right one for you. This style is old, but it looks great now.
Men in the 1950s might have had time to style their hair for up to 15 minutes, but with today’s busy lives, this style is only suitable for people ready to put in a lot of work.
A standard pompadour has a lot of volume and shine. To get one, more hair must be cut short on the sides and back than on top. The fringe needs to be longer than the head. Pomades like Dax, which are from the past, are the best way to style your hair. It makes your hair smooth and shiny.
2. THE RECENT POMPADOUR
Do you feel like the Kings but want something more up-to-date? You could try a trendy pompadour that isn’t tied back.
The name of the style comes from the fact that the front hair is longer than the back and sides. A grade four or lower clip is usually enough to cut the hair on the sides and back of a modern pomp to an average length. This makes them different from other pomps. This means that the hair on the sides and back needs to be very short at the hairline and a little longer toward the crown.
Because you don’t have to use as much styling product (like men’s hair mousse) on the sides and back of the modern pompadour, it’s easier to style than the classic form. This is great for people who are short on time.
3. SHORT POMPADOURS AND WHAT THEY ARE
Cut a few inches off of your hair to get a little less flashy pompadour. The short pompadour is a more modest way to wear today’s stylish look. Bigger versions are more challenging, but this takes less time and less faith. All hair is cut short or bleached on the sides and back.
The fringe hair is longer than the back and sides but not more than 4 cm.The pomp will still need some work, but you’ll need much less hair, saving you time and other things.
4. THE POMPADOUR WITH CURLS
Do you like how neat classic pompadour styles are? It will be rougher than smooth if the standard style is made grainy. This pompadour with different textures looks great on guys with thick, curly, or wavy hair.
The first style has clean lines and a high shine that this one doesn’t have. The messy, rough look makes you look like you just won a fight or quickly got off a Yamaha motorbike. You don’t use pomade for this style, but clay or paste that stays in place. You can use a comb, but your hands are the best tool for the job.
5. THE POMPADOUR WITH FADE
There are lots of cool hairstyles for guys these days. If you want to look the coolest, give your pompadour a fade.
Bring your pompadour into the present day with this great style that keeps its classic look. The sides narrow over time, and the signature coif is on top. Wear your hair with a fade below your ears and a smooth top to pull this off. The best way to look good is to keep the hair on top tight. This will keep your style neat and give your face clean lines.
6. THE POMPADOUR WITH LOW FADE
It’s possible that you would like the low fade more than the dramatic fade pompadour. The low fade keeps the trendy style but gives it a more refined look.
You can make your hair look better even with a low-fade pompadour than with a fade, where the sides are cut short to the top of your head.It’s easy to keep up with this style. Just let it set up for a moment. It’s also great for a quick, messy look in the morning.
7. HOW TO UNDERCUT A POMPADOUR
You could wear a haircut with your pompadour for a more dramatic look. You will stand out from other guys with this style: sides and back hair clipped short and longer on top.
This style is clean and very flexible because it doesn’t need to be styled all the time like some pompadours do. You can gel the hair back on top to look put-together or let it hang loose and not look messy.There is a popular take on this classic style called the undercut pompadour that you could try.
8. THE POMPADOUR WITH PARTS
If you want your pompadour to stand out, add a bright part like Leonardo DiCaprio.When styling a pompadour, the straight hair on top is often brushed backwards. But why not brush it to one side for a change?
People who set fashion trends and celebrities love this ultra-classy look, which gives a clean combover style without the bald spots.If you feel courageous, adding a shaved part can make this side-swept look even more unique.
Comb your hair in one neat direction when you wear a pompadour with a part, especially if it’s a tricky part… Also, don’t forget the backside!
9. THE POMPADOUR OF VOLUMINOUSNESS
Not sure what to do with your hair because you have a lot of it? Have fun with the full pompadour, making your thick hair look its best. One of the coolest looks out there is this one.If you have thick hair, blow dry it and brush it up to give it more volume before you put a lot of product on it.
This will help it stay put all day. If you want your pompadour to look even more significant, fade the sides even more. This style can be worn with thin hair, but you may quickly see why it looks better with thicker hair.
10. THE RELAXED POMPADOUR
The relaxed pompadour is the most accessible style to keep up at the other end of the scale and works for many hair types.You don’t have to spend hours getting ready in the morning with these styles. You can wear your hair longer and messier.
This works well if your hair is thick, curly, or wavy. You can get up and go because it’s so easy to put on.This cut might need a little more work if you have thin hair. But there are a lot of things that should keep your pompadour in place.
11. ONE-LENGTH POMPADOUR
To bring this classic style up to date, the pompadour often has darker ends or an undercut. You can wear it with short or long hair, though.Long hair is brushed back all over the head in a pompadour with a single length. This gives the hair a retro look. Along the edges, there are no sharp cuts.
When you get a regular haircut, the top and side hair are not cut off. But be careful because this pompadour can quickly turn into a mullet. Use the product to hold your hair in place and brush the top and sides of your hair. This will give you the best single-length pompadour.
THE BEST WAY TO DO A POMPADOUR
The steps you need to take to style a pompadour are the same, whether you want it smooth and tight or loose enough for your hands to fit through.
No1. CLEAN AND WASH
Make sure your hair is clean, toned, and free of extra oil, dirt, or product waste before starting.
No2. DRY OFF
Use a soft towel to dry the wet hair. A hairdryer and a comb will help you dry your hair. Comb it backwards from your forehead and temples to the top and back of your head. Always go through the hair shaft from the root to the tip.
No3. PUT THE ITEM ON
Next, put on an amount about the size of a pea. Before running it through your hair, gently rub it between your palms nice and hard to warm it up.NB: Ignore the amount of product we say you should use at your own risk. Using too much makeup will make you look like someone who didn’t make it on Love Island, or you’ll have to take a shower and start over. If you need to, you can always add less quickly. Begin with a little.
No4. JOIN
Start combing again using the method shown in step two. Comb your hair with one hand and pat it down gently with the other. This makes the hair smoother and helps shape the style. Use the method shown in step two to start brushing again. Use one hand to comb your hair and the other to pat it down gently. This helps shape the style and makes the hair smoother.
No5. DO THE QUIFF
Then the quiff would be a good idea. Press the hair you brushed backwards forward with the palm of your other hand. It should only be enough to bend the hair a little. After that, use the comb to arrange your fringe so it stands up straight and touches your head. It’s turning around.
If the fringe doesn’t grow poker straight, it should fall slightly to the left or right to make the style look best. Could you take a deep breath and let it happen?
No6. SPRAY YOUR HAIR
Add a little strong-hold hairspray to your pompadour once you’re happy with its shape and finish. This will help keep everything in place. Pick out a finish. This product lets you choose between a classic shiny look or a more casual, rough pompadour. When you want to look new, do these things every day.
POMPADOUR SLEEK
An easy, clean pompadour can be made with a high-shine pomade for guys. Don’t forget to use a strong-hold hairspray to finish.
HOW IT LOOKS
Do not be too precise with your pompadour. Instead, use a texturizing clay, cream, or paste and comb or scrunch your hair. For this one, don’t use hairspray.
FREE AND NATURAL POMPADOUR
Do away with pomade and paste, and use salt spray for an open, beachy look. Spray a lot of it on hair that has been dried with a towel and comb it through to make an open pompadour.
This finish doesn’t last very long, which is a shame. You don’t have to use heavy or sticky products on it, though; Sometimes, you can brush it off your face and put it back in place. Do not ever say that we do not care about you.
POMPADOUR FAQ
Have a few more questions about the pompadour cut? For some last tips, read these Frequently Asked Questions.
WHAT LENGTH OF HAIR DO YOU NEED FOR A POMPADOUR?
The top of your head doesn’t need a lot of hair, but you should have about three or four inches so that the shape is unmistakable. No one cares what length your hair is on the rest of your head. You can wear it however long you want.
WHAT DO I DO TO GET A POMPADOUR?
If you want a pompadour, you should let your hair grow out, at least on top. Read about different pompadour styles and pick one that fits your face shape and hair type. Then, use a picture to help you make your choice. But that’s only half the game. It is essential to take care of your pompadour if you have one. To get this well-known style, brush your wet hair up and back while you blow-dry it. Then, keep the hair in place while you smooth it with product or hairspray.
DO POMPADOURS STILL LOOK GOOD?
The pompadour has come a long way since it was first worn before the French Revolution. Men have worn the pompadour for a long time, and its popularity has only grown as modern guys try to look classic.
HOW ARE A POMPADOUR AND A QUIFF DIFFERENT?
Most people mix up the quiff and the pompadour, but they are very different. With a pompadour, it’s all about the top of the head. To make the hair look smooth, it is pulled back. If you want a quiff, on the other hand, you only use the front of your hair to add volume above your face.
It also takes more care to style a pompadour than a quiff, which can be styled fast and has more texture.
