Step-by-Step: Slept-in Pompadour

A modern recreation of a timeless style, today's pompadour is a versatile and stylish trend that's suitable for both men and women. While traditionally associated with the greasers of the '50s and '60s when the do first became popular, celebrities like David Beckham and Ruby Rose have put a new, relatable twist on the style. The modern pompadour still holds a rebellious undertone, but it's now more suitable for the everyday woman and man seeking a bold look. 

In this step-by-step, KMS National Artistic Team Member, Karen Cunningham (@_karen_cunninghamhair) walks us through a loose, undone look that she calls the "slept-in pompadour." 

"The shoot was titled Walk of Shame, so I wanted the look to feel rushed, creating a feeling of the typical mad dash in the morning after a night out. The inspiration was a slept-in, relaxed, rockabilly pompadour. The background story was essential to my creative process when creating this look as the photo conveys emotions of empowerment mixed with slight guilt," says Cunningham. 

Karen Cunningham's Slept in Pompadour

Get the look

Color

Style

  • Step 1: Start by prepping hair with KMS HAIRPLAY Sea Salt Spray and rough dry.

  • Step 2: Next, set back and side sections of hair with KMS THERMASHAPE Hot Flex Spray. Following, use a flat wave technique, starting at top sections of hair, using a VARIS 1” Curler. For the vertical sections, set hair on each side starting at the top of the head, directed towards the middle.

  • Step 3: Lightly brush through to release set. Then, add KMS HAIRPLAY Liquid Dust to hands, emulsify into a tacky texture and apply to roots for instant volume.

  • Step 4: Brush hair around the parietal ridge back, and secure with a bobby pin in the back.

  • Step 5: Finally, set the style with KMS HAIRSTAY Firm Finishing Hairspray.

About: Style is a visual language that unites creative people everywhere. KMS uses the powerful language of style to collaborate with their community and collect ideas and curate from the most inspiring places in the world: runways, urban fashion districts and the streets. The products, organized intuitively into START. STYLE. FINISH. are influenced by the style they see, with input from the community of global creatives, and performance delivered by high-performing TRIfinity Technology. Style Matters.