Hairdresser to the stars, Vaughn Acord, has just launched his eponymous grooming line, V76 by Vaughn, in the UAE. He’s one of the biggest authorities in men’s grooming today and since the celebs trust him with their hair (Bruce Springsteen and Tom Brady are clients of his), we thought we’d ask him for a few tips…
Hi Vaughn, what are your top three haircare tips for men? What do most of us tend to get wrong?
Well, it sounds simple but here you go: 1. Wash your hair when it’s dirty. This doesn’t necessarily mean do it every day, however getting your hair wet while showering will allow you to restyle. 2. Stimulate the scalp while washing your hair. It creates blood flow and excitement — don’t let it go sedentary, and 3. Regardless of hair length, every guy should be seeing his hairdresser every four to 10 weeks.
And while you may have your favourite go-to products, you should know that combining and cocktailing products can give some really great results. For instance you can mix my V Rated Natural Wax with the Molding Paste to get a nice sheen but with a great hold. Also, the microfibres found in products can be reactivated with a mist or water. If a guy likes his hair flat for work during the day, but wants to mess it up for a more relaxed look for after-work hours, he can mist the hair (try my Ultralight Grooming Spray or Hydrator Hair & Face Mist) to completely change his style. Finally, make sure to keep a well-balanced diet as hair lives off the bloodstream.
What advice would you give to those of us living in and around the Gulf, where we’re exposed to heat and seawater?
The heat and the sea can dry you out, so balancing moisture in the hair is very important. Think of it in the same way as you would the skin on your face.
When it comes to style, should we be growing a beard? Everyone else is…
Not necessarily. As everyone else grows a beard, you will start to see clean faces come back in style. In fact, we are already seeing it on the runways in New York and Paris, so it won’t be long.
What are the common facial hair faux pas?
I don’t like facial hair to look too perfect, as if it was spray-painted onto the face using exact lines. Follow the jawline if you’re trying to create some sort of border on the chin. Don’t do a dip or you will give the illusion of a double chin.
What advice would you give to a gent who is thinning on top? Give it up?
Keep a nice crop and try not to hang on to too much length or the hair will end up flopping. Also, create some sort of movement — the energy will take away from the visually obvious.
Top three haircuts for AW15?
It’s hard to say what my top three would be. It is more of a mood and a feeling that is tailored to each man. However, we will see a few new things this season. Guys are going to keep a little more length on the sides while keeping it clean and groomed. It won’t be buzzed down to the scalp with a pile of hair on top like you are seeing now. Also, a lot of men are starting to wear a bang or a fringe, basically hair that drops down in the front. Lastly, we are beginning to see masculine accessories.
A man with longer hair might push it back with a cool band or bandana or tie it up with a strip of leather.
V76 by Vaughn is available at Harvey Nichols Dubai