"Making the Cut" and "Using Your Head"

"Making the Cut" by Frank Lorraine, Gentleman's Quarterly, Volume 66, Number 1, January 1996, page 52.

"Using Your Head" by Frank Lorraine, Gentleman's Quarterly, Volume 66, Number 1, January 1996, page 53.

"Making the Cut" was an article suggesting how three of the U.S. presidential candidates at that time, Bill Clinton, Bob Dole and Pat Buchanan could improve their image by updating their hair styles.

It suggested that Clinton's hair should be shorter on top and longer at the back and on the sideburns, to create more body on the sides. This would make the president's face appear more oval (reducing the length of the face).

The goal for Bob Dole was to make him appear friendlier. The article suggests moving Dole's part to the left hand side and changing it to fill in the thinning area, letting the back grow a little longer and adding a little color on top.

The goal for Pat Buchanan was to give him a more moderate appearance (to provide contrast to his conservative nature). To achieve this, the article recommends moving Buchanan's part higher up and brushing it more to the side (instead of towards the back of his head).

"Using Your Head" gives some suggestions on how to look either "hipper or younger", "polished and gentlemanly" or "tougher and more adventurous".

The "hipper and younger" look can be achieved, the article says" by getting a "choppy, little boy's haircut" that is about half an inch to an inch all over, but "slightly overgrown on top of the ears and at the nape, and really ruffly". The side-burns should come down to a fraction below the cheek-bone but do not have to be perfectly edged. This "towel-dried" look gives a certain rough edge.

To get the "polished and gentlemanly" but still cool look, the article suggests having the hair on top cut to about an inch and a half and slicked back with a gel or pomade. The sides should be tapered with clean-edged sideburns no lower than a fraction below the cheek-bone. The article warns about having the hair stuck back too tight on top.

The "tougher and more adventurous look" is just a quarter inch all over buzz cut away. The side burn should also be cut to a quarter inch hair length and may come down a little lower than the other two cuts described above.

The article also offers the following overall guidelines:

• The cut you choose will depend upon your hair type. Men with thin hair need to keep it shorter, which makes it look thicker.
• "Hair color can add shine and texture", but it must have a natural look. Avoid any color that is darker than your original hair color and leave a few gray hairs showing through.
• There are new-generation non-greasy pomades and thickening lotions.
• If you have a good haircut, blow drying is not necessary.

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