While the days of powdered wigs are long gone, definitely, the hairdo named after Louis the XV’s most famous mistress, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, the Marquise de Pompadour, lives on.
It has undergone various permutations over the years, on both men and women. In the 1890s, it saw a major revival as part of the Gibson Girl look, and again in the ’40s through to the ’50s when it became associated with male celebrities such as Elvis Presley and James Dean.
For some time, the look was adopted by those who favored the vintage culture of the ’50s and ’60s. Today, present-day interpretations of it are regaining popularity among men of various ages and lifestyles.
Former late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien is one of the most notable modern wearers of the pompadour, as is young music maverick Bruno Mars.
The haircut is essentially one where the bangs are left much longer than the sides and back to achieve a layered look that allows you to brush the top up and back. The short length of the sides vis-à-vis the top depends on what look you’re going for.
1. The first interpretation is one where the sides and back are cropped short or clipped close to the scalp, and the top worn very long by contrast. This extreme look is a statement cut for those who want to project drama and character. I’ve done this look for Tim Yap.
2. The more yuppie-businessman interpretation is one best epitomized by Ryan Seacrest. The hair is fairly short on the sides without being too close to the scalp, then worn medium-length and brushed back neatly without too much volume.
3. Among the young, the look is sported by the likes of Justin Bieber and Zac Efron, both of whom have worn the side-swept style. In this case, it’s slightly longer on top, than in the relatively more conservative “businessman version”—not extremely short on the sides.
Right products
For today’s stylish male to do the pompadour, there are hair-care products on the market. The choices would depend on the look one wants.
Osis Mess Up (Schwarzkopf) and Bench/Fix Professional Clay Doh (Moulding Clay) provide a similar matte finish. The first yields the dry texture effect—choppy and rough style, with lasting control. Only a small amount is required to style and create the textured look.
For firm hold and high shine, there’s Wonder Wax by Davines. It can take wetness and sun exposure, and works for all hair types.
Another texturizing wax is Bed Head’s Stick Wax, which has conditioning agents. It has a pliable finish that looks natural, and a slightly more semi-matte look without buildup.
Essensity Sculpting Mash by Schwarzkopf allows medium control and is ideal for lifting—perfect for extreme pompadour. The formula combines the essence of organic ash tree bark and hops, which is good for conditioned styling and provides natural body and bounce. It has no artificial colorants and fragrances, silicones, PEGs, paraffin/mineral oils and parabens.
Healthy scalp
And, of course, aside from using various styling products to create the style, it’s important to keep the hair well-cleansed and the scalp healthy.
Also by Schwarzkopf, there’s a product well-suited to scalps that are prone to oiliness. Bonacure Hairtherapy Amino Cell Rebuild is a pre-shampoo peeling that exfoliates and tones for a healthy, clean and balanced scalp. This is an innovative pre-shampoo service. It has a light gel consistency with peeling beads, and is applied to the scalp for two to three minutes, by brush before shampooing, and rinsed off.
Created specifically for men, Capital Force Vita-Energising Shampoo (Kerastase Homme) stimulates and refreshes the scalp with Taurine and Ginseng. It has a fresh, minty scent, and is touted to boost hair mass. It’s also for daily use.
Sporting the man’s revived pompadour is about knowing what you feel most comfortable trying, and keeping your hair in the right shape.
H Salon is at the G/F, The Residences at Greenbelt, Makati City; tel. 7991888/7991495; mobile 0920-9181880; e-mail [email protected].
