Men's hairdresser, Jim Shaw, has shared his comments on what he believes will be the trending in autumn/winter 2023.
Cuts/styling
The French crop is a popular and versatile men's haircut that has been on trend for decades and will be a prominent trend for autumn/winter 2023. It typically features short length on the sides and back, while the hair on top is longer and typically textured. The cut is balanced, blending a clean, polished appearance with some modern texture and it works for almost every male client — no matter their face shape or hair type. For me, I love to use a matte pomade or clay to finish the style and give it an effortless feel whilst showcasing the texture in the hair. You can also modernize the look further by adding in a super short, textured fringe for a super cool and trendy finish.
The tight fade will be another super popular cut this autumn. This should be cut very short on the sides and at the back of the head and will feature a gradual transition from the longer hair on the top to much shorter hair as you move towards the sides and back. The tight fade creates a clean and sharp look, emphasizing the contrast between the top and the sides. It's another versatile haircut choice that can be adapted to suit the client, their hair type and texture.
Mullets, shags and 90s inspired cuts with heavy texture will also be on trend for the new season and are great for clients looking to get rid of excess weight in their hair and for those who love a cut that’s more low maintenance that doesn’t require much styling. Mullets will be taken slightly shorter this year and will have a ‘spikier’ like appearance for a grungier take on the style.
For clients who like a look that’s more polished, the combover is here to stay and will be teamed with a deep side parting. When creating this look, always start by creating your side parting and using a tail comb to create the line using the end of your eye as a guide for where you want the parting to start. For more stubborn hair that doesn’t want to lay flat, you can also use a hairdryer to help direct the parting to the opposite side of the head.
I then like to use a hair comb and wax to create a seamless finish with the comb over, ensuring all flyaways are at bay before finishing with a shine spray to give the hair a further clean and slick appearance. These more polished styles are timeless but particularly great for the autumn/winter season where many clients are looking to banish any frizz/flyaways and tame their hair. Product can also be used to not just give the hair a sleek and shiny appearance but also to provide it with moisture and nourishment.
Color
When it comes to color for men for AW23 adding blonde will be a huge trend this season with sandy blonde tones particularly being popular that will add warmth to the clients' hair and complexion. Adding blonde highlights or blonde sweeps of color to any style are also great options for those who want to add more subtle blonde touches and look great paired with volumized hairstyles like a mohawk, quiff and pompadour.
With the launch of the Barbie movie this year bleaching will also stay on trend throughout 2023. For men, bleaching will particularly be popular when worn with a fade haircut with the bleach being placed on the top and the natural hair color showing on the sides.
For clients looking for a more stand out color shade for the season, greens and pinks I think will be two of the most popular vibrant color shades this autumn/winter. Think neon/candy apple shades of green that really stand out from the crowd, and more blossom like pinks, a perfect option for blondes.
As we head into the colder months, reds are always a popular color choice and I think we will see male clients not only experimenting by adding copper highlights throughout their hair, but also feeling more adventurous and opting for more vivid cherry reds and retro orange hues. Rose gold will also be another popular choice, which has been popular among millennials for some time and is a great way to add warmth to the hair and to give it added shine.