Last week's international release of the Clint Eastwood-directed film J. Edgar put the spotlight not just on the legacy of the FBI founder J Edgar Hoover (played by Leonardo DiCaprio). It also brought to our attention Hoover's elaborately coiffed hair - lying back on top, slicked with pomade and fading into the sides - and how more and more men are sporting the style today.
The DJ and musician Mark Ronson wore the contoured cut when he visited Abu Dhabi last week. Also taking part in the hair-renaissance are the Hollywood heartthrob Joe Jonas, the fashion designer Hedi Slimane, Arcade Fire's lead vocalist Win Butler and the Boardwalk Empire bad boy Michael Pitt, to name but a few. And let's not forget the film director David Lynch, whose forever fluffing forelocks are as complicated as his movies.
Even the television sports announcers in Sweden have adopted the style. They've dubbed the look the "synth", alluding to the hard-rock scene of the 1980s.
In Germany, the haircut is referred to by some as the jugend (youth) and even the "Hitler", recognising the buzzed temples' fascist connections.
"I think it goes along with a newly restored romance for tailoring, the cut and craftsmanship you see with this current heritage trend," The Sartorialist's Scott Schuman told The New York Times last week. Schuman wears the old school 'do himself.
Dare to tag along with the trend? The key to the cut's success is the pomade, which gives your mop a matte finish. Price and brand do not matter - it's how hard the pomade can hold your throwback. When getting a haircut, remember to tell your barber to use a scissors-and-comb combo - not a razor - to execute the fading on the sides, giving it more texture and grit.
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Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
