Not to say that having fun with trends and trying out new things have to come to a screeching halt. With the big 3-0 comes a certain self-assurance and self-awareness that trends should fit both your style AND your lifestyle. Boundaries are more firmly in place—along with the epiphany that hey, maybe that mullet-shag of your college punk band years—might need to retire (just a suggestion!). Older and wiser doesn’t mean dated, after all. We’re here to provide you with ideas on how to update your everyday look without sacrificing your personal style. We list down some ideas on how to rock a bit of groomed length:
The Best Medium Men’s Hairstyles For Your 30s
1. Floppy Layers
That pretty-boy half-shag big in the ’90s? Yeah, it’s getting a smoother upgrade. Nothing big, just more blended layers all throughout, and a more subtle transition between the top bang area and the mid-lengths. Anything choppier than that and you might look like a teen sitcom throwback, which is cool too if that’s the look you’re going for! Best on straight to wavy strands, this hairstyle is best emphasized with a healthy shine. Wash with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as AXE Max Hydrate 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner and style with a waxy product to subtly define your layers and give them some natural swish, like Dove Men+Care Sculpting Paste.
2. Moptop
This bookish, mussy grad-student look (that you may have tried desperately to grow out during your younger years) is actually enjoying a fashion-forward comeback, due to the whole ’90s trending wave. Make it more sophisticated by cropping the sides shorter but leaving some tousled texture up top—wavy to curly-haired dudes will transition seamlessly into this cut, FYI—and keep the crown no longer than four inches. Rinse with a clarifying shampoo and conditioner, like Bed Head for Men by TIGI Clean Up Daily Shampoo and Peppermint Conditioner to earn your strands some lift, which you can then emphasize with a softening cream, like AXE Natural Look: Softening Cream.
3. Precision-Cut Crop
What do all dashing leading men in those famous romcoms have in common? Precision-cut medium men’s hairstyles that give the illusion of fullness and bounce. Update the token BMOC heartthrob’s hairstyle into a more 2016-friendly version with a trendy scissor fade on the sides. Ask your barber to point-cut or razor the ends of the bang area so that you get some length but slight texture as well. After rinsing with a strengthening shampoo and conditioner such as Dove Men+Care Thick & Strong Fortifying Shampoo + Conditioner (best keep hair full-looking for this), bring out some pomade like AXE Clean Cut Look: Classic Pomade to provide some hold, but with a sheen.
4. Bowl Cut
Mother knew best, after all! Who knew that infamous apple cut that plagued all our 1980s childhoods (yes, us gals included) would return in full force? Well, we can thank Asian superstars for this one, who have managed to resurrect the dorky bowl cut and make it dapper again, with some clever details. Best for roundish faces and straight to wavy hair, break up the traditionally round bang area with some razored shearing for a slightly more jagged fringe. Rinse with a softening 2-in-1 shampoo, like AXE White Label Night 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner. Style to the side, good-guy style, with some pomade, or get playful and muss it up with some paste, such as Bed Head by TIGI Pure Texture, for a more tousled, messier look.
5. Tapered Afro
Natural-haired guys who want a short-hair alternative to a tight fade can also opt for a cropped afro. Choose a cut that stays slightly short all around, with slightly more tapered sides and neckline. Best for Black and natural hair or guys with curls, this cut puts texture front and center. Since curls and natural hair tend to be drier, use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner when washing and treat with a leave-in serum, such as Dove Quench Absolute Supreme Crème Serum, to condition ringlets. Which of these medium men’s hairstyles are you going to try?
