Salut, my name is Lyo and I’m a stylist at Salon Charisma in Washington, D.C., where we serve both men and women. I have worked in Europe, Asia and the U.S., starting in Paris. I have always believed that, while women invest their look in me, men tend to not understand how much the style and care of their hair is crucial to maintaining an attractive, professional look. Be Better Guys asked me to offer you some tips on how you can use the hair on your head and your facial hair to improve your look, style and image. So let’s talk about your head. What is the most common hairstyle both here in the capital of the United States and elsewhere in this country? I call it the “atomique mushroom”, or mushroom cloud. You’ve seen it before, you may have even worn it yourself – short on the sides, longer on top, parted to the side. I think it looks like Fred Flintstone, though others tell me it’s more Barney Rubble.  Either way, you can do better.

I agree with David and Brian’s philosophy – every guy wants to stand out. No guy I’ve ever known wants to fade into the background at work, at the bar, or at a party and not be noticed, not be talked to. Even though hair grows slowly, if you work with someone who knows how to shape your hair to fit your face and show you how to properly style it, you’re ahead of most other men. A new hairstyle is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to look original and even change up your look. This is actually a conversation I have with David every time he comes in. I ask him what he wants, he always tells me, “The same is fine,” and I ask him why he won’t change it up a bit. He says, “Because I go with what works, and keeping it short has always worked.”  Don’t be scared to try something new.  It’s hair, after all, and it can always be fixed. 

Here are my general tips for guys of all types to encourage you to try to do something new with your hair and your look:      

You may think this is radical, but a little bedhead or a beard is nothing. But know this – more and more men are using these techniques to differentiate themselves from the pack and it’s working for them. I see these guys all the time and I help them to look unique. Professional hairstylists are here to help you look unique, too, and you should use us to help you refine your look.

Don’t believe me? Let me put it to you another way, I’ve been cutting women’s hair for many years. All women get their hair cut by a stylist (unless they do it themselves). And all of my female clients, notice your hair as much as they notice their own. For themselves, women prefer stylists. They also would prefer that you use a stylist and don’t think they can’t tell a pro job from a chop shop. Even if you can’t, they can. Just ask them.