Nail your hairstyle

Forget awkward chat about holidays – have a more productive conversation in the chair by following this advice from artistic barber and male grooming expert Carmelo Guastella, and you’ll come away happy with the results

BRING A PHOTO

“You might think it looks vain to bring a photo of what you’re looking to achieve, but it’s helpful,” says Guastella (carmeloguastella.com). “The barber can tell you if you’re able to achieve that look or what you need to do to achieve it. You may already have the length and it’s just about styling. Also, you have to realise that the hair in the picture has been blow-dried, it has mousse in it and other products and maybe someone spent 20 minutes styling it and that’s why it looks that way.”

ASK FOR ADVICE

“A lot of guys say to me, ‘My hair doesn’t do what I want it to’ and I ask them, ‘Do you use any products?’ and often the answer is no. Or they use a product but they’re not using a hair dryer so it’s not going to achieve the look they want. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice, especially if you want a change. If you’re happy with the reply, go for it. And a good barber should always tell you what they’re doing when they style your hair after the cut.”

CHOOSE THE RIGHT BARBER

“When choosing a barber, you can find out about their work through their social media feeds. You can also follow trends. Three years ago every guy had short back and sides but at the moment you see longer hair on top, which I predicted. I also think it is going to move more towards a longer, messier 70s look next. So look for barbers who’ve shown they are on top of trends.”

DON’T FEAR CHANGE

“A lot of men have the same haircut for 40 years. You don’t have to! I advise people not to always have the same style – grow it long, cut it short, change it. And trust the barber when they tell you what the best product is to use, and give you tips about how to use them. Hairdryers aren’t just for girls, and a mousse or paste – something that’s not too oily – is always useful.”

HAVE PATIENCE

“Sometimes good hair doesn’t happen in one day. You may see the final result in four or five haircuts, especially if you’re growing it out. A good barber will make the client understand what they are doing.”