Haircut & Style- Kit Harington-Inspired Wavy Brushback

A common concern that comes up for my wavy-haired clients when we talk about growing their hair out long is that they are worried they just don’t have the right hair type for it.

“Is there a way to grow out wavy hair without it turning into an afro?”

This is the question I get asked the most often for this scenario. It comes from the fact that they may have tried to grow their hair long when they were younger and all they got was a puffy, frizzy mess.

The answer is that there is a way to work with wavy-to-curly- hair and tame the curls so that the hair doesn’t grow out so wild.

For example, we have this Kit Harington-inspired wavy brushed-back style which I will break down for you today.

What to ask for

Simple Answer:

“A classic men’s scissor-cut that allows for the hair to be brushed back. Leaving the top long and disconnected. ”

Long Answer:

The biggest issue when it comes to wavy-to-curly hair is that a lot of barbers and stylists struggle with understanding the weight of the hair and how to style it afterward.

When cutting the hair, I use the same foundational principles I always use to get a well-balanced shape, but I will then work on removing weight with texturizing techniques so that the hair doesn’t bulk up in certain areas. This helps create a haircut that isn’t prone to frizzing out and puffing up.

My preferred method of texturizing is to do a variation of point-cutting where I will take a section of hair and snip into it in a seemingly random pattern. This helps remove weight without the drawbacks of other techniques.

Generally speaking, using a thinning scissor will only fray your ends more and make your hair more prone to frizzing. A texture razor is also not the ideal choice as it creates a serrated finish, which also leads to a lot of frizzy hair.

By using strategic point cuts with the haircutting shears, we are creating elements of bluntness within the hair. The bluntness keeps the ends stronger, and stronger ends are less likely to frizz. Instead, they will do the opposite and will feel weighed down by the strong ends, which will help flatten the hairstyle down.

An Example

A Visual Representation of Different Techniques on Hair

As shown in the graphic, all techniques remove bulk, but the first two will cause the ends (the top of the strands) to become more sparse.

With point-cutting, we maintain the integrity of the ends, so when the hair is styled and begins to bend, more hair is available to support the structure.

Without support, the hair doesn’t know where to go and will frizz/fly-away.

Once the cut is done, we cannot neglect the styling phase as it is equally as important for achieving the perfect style.

Before we get into the how-to style, we should go over some product options for styling wavy/curly hair.

Curl Cream- a very hydrating, light-hold product that can help control frizz and define the curls. I would typically recommend this product for my clients as I find that their hair is in need of extra moisture.

Hair Mousse- a stronger-hold product that can help give weightless volume. Also designed to help define curls, but not meant to be hydrating. This is for anyone that has wavy hair but wants to prioritize building up height and volume. I do enjoy a good hair mousse and I think they can really help with styling any hair type, not just wavy/curly hair types.

However, most guys trying to grow out their hair seem to prefer less volume (especially on the sides). Curl creams also help maintain the health of the hair while it grows out, but mousses typically lack this benefit.

How to Style

1- Select the product of choice from above and apply it evenly to damp hair.

2- Add a high-hold matte cream or clay for extra support.

3- Using a comb or a brush to smooth hair in the desired direction (for this style, you want to bring everything backward)

4- Diffuse the hair until 80-85% dry, you don’t want to over-dry the hair. Air-drying is preferred but the issue is that it takes a while, and the hair may fall throughout the drying process. You want the hair to dry how you want it styled.

5- This style does not need volume, but if you want to add some, gently brush your hair out following the direction you styled it in.