Trends and anti-trends in men's haircuts 2021

During a recent live broadcast, we spoke with a barber, a master of men's haircuts, and the founder of TheSketch barbershop network Maxim Stifler spoke about trends and anti-trends for the coming year, discussed the relevance of Hair Tattoo, as well as coloring in men's haircuts.

Of course, first of all, the wishes and preferences of clients were influenced by numerical lockdowns, when there is no opportunity to systematically go for a haircut. Many have switched to remote work mode, there are fewer live meetings, and clients, in fact, are giving themselves the opportunity to grow hair longer and go to the barbershop less often.

Therefore, I think that now long haircuts will be in the top. I would note in this group the Curtains haircut, which translated from English means curtains that fall on both sides. The various Curly options are, of course, especially suitable for those clients who naturally have curly or wavy hair.

Also in trend will be haircuts “in the opposite direction” from long ones - super short haircuts, such as boxing.

Travis Scott's haircut will also become popular: braids that fall in different directions. For them to fall apart, the temples and back of the head must be shaved or cropped short, with elements of some kind of fade.

The classic ones fade into the background a little. Clients have begun to refuse side parts, or rather request them much less often. Now these are either some very practical haircuts - this is a contingent of older guys, but young people still prefer Crop or longer haircuts - Curly, Curtains and everything like that.

Is it the quarantine that influences the emergence of these trends? Or are there still some other factors?

Well, first of all, it’s worth saying that fashion and customer tastes are cyclical. Old haircuts are coming back, and hairdressers are combining them in different ways. Barbers get bored, they try to experiment, try something new and combine incompatible forms, and it turns out very cool and new.

The Curtains haircut gained its popularity primarily due to the K-Pop style. Do you agree with this opinion?

Yes I agree. It was K-pop performers and musicians who especially actively adopted this type of haircut. But Curtains come from England, like most of the haircuts that come to us.

You mentioned earlier that classic haircuts are going to move back a little. But isn't a classic still a classic?

Absolutely right. The classic remains, and it is always in demand among people who are conservative in their haircuts. There will always be those who ask for regular, familiar haircuts without anything exotic.

But precisely in the period 2020-2021, due to the quarantine situation, people want to experiment and are experimenting. Lockdowns require good changes. Previously, such experimental haircuts were called model haircuts. Previously, barbershops were segmented: some provided classic haircuts, others specialized in modern haircuts. Nowadays it's all mixed up, and part of the reason is that clients are trying different haircuts.

What anti-trends for 2021 can you highlight?

Now there are very few requests for various Slick Backs, platforms, quiffs, pompadours. Actually, old school haircuts are a bit of a departure. If earlier they liked to use styling products for smoothly combed, styled hair, now they are trying to use matte finish products for texture, so that there is less “slicked hair.”

How do customer preferences vary by age group?

It’s easiest for children to experiment and take extravagant “steps”; they won’t have to get a job. Those who are older want rebellious haircuts with pronounced temples, dense bangs, and texture. But older clients opt for classics or still choose short haircuts.

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