Thursday 26 April 2012

Man of Many Talents;

1/3rd of Queensland band HorseFight and stylist at boutique hair salon Pimps & Pin Ups in the heart of Spitalfields Market, London, Luke Dunell talks about modern influences within male grooming and how the music scene is one of the biggest inspirations of all.


FD: What are you finding is influential to most men in terms of male grooming at the moment?
L: I think at the moment theres all different types of things, you have your sort of ‘shabby chic’, which a lot of guys are going for which I think is quite good. In comparison, you have the really sharp meterosexual looks that were around maybe two, or three years ago. But it’s all depending, around here at the moment Spitalfields and Shoreditch guys are really going for stuff that’s quite edgy, so you’re going for disconnected cuts, which is basically like shaved pieces [runs fingers down from temples and around the back of his head] and then maybe long at the top. But it does range from that to really sharp cropped, well cut classic barber cuts aswell.

FD: What are the most prominent grooming trends you’re seeing at the moment?
L: It depends on the guy obviously, but definitely going back to old school, a sort of sharpness at the moment. So you’ve got classic fades, going from skin up to maybe a grade three and guys are really open to that at the moment.

FD: Are you finding males to be more aware of current grooming trends in this day and age?
L: I think so yeah, I believe especially our clientelle, they thrive in it you know? They like to look around and see what other people are wearing. They come into the salon and will ask us “will it work?” and we’ll just go “yey” or “neigh” you know?

FD: Are your clients more specific in what they want, or do they let you take reign? L:I’d say it’s probably 50/50 the percentage of guys that are really definite in what they’re gonna get and other ones will leave it up to us a little bit. You know we’re sort of getting inspired by the stuff thats around us and whats happening. We definitely get inspiration from parties (laughs) and bands, I don’t know, music. I think anything thats going round and has got a little bit of, and I hate to say it but a scene to it you know? Something thats actually got a bit of a movement maybe.

FD: How have you seen trends in grooming shift over the years?
L: As I said earlier, a few years ago there was a sort of meterosexual movement which saw a lot of guys getting their straighteners out and straightening their hair, which is great. But it’s kind of progressed to a point where guys are a little bit happier to be a male, to be a bit shabby, yeah they still care about the way they look but they’re not worrying too much. I think it just depends on whats happening in the scene or area in which you’re around.

FD: Advertising plays a huge role in the marketing and promotion of male grooming especially now in the twenty first century, what do you feel has the most impact?
L: Just the stuff you see on TV or the way guys are wearing their hair in movies or ad’s is a massive factor. As far as products being designed towards men, every season each hair company is bringing out different products and I think more and more we are seeing stuff that is more open to maybe the ‘normal’ guy. It’s rare to see a guy now who has bad hair and I think that is becuase of advertising and because of magazines and maybe girlfriends going “look this is just not on!” Which is great, I think it’s really good, theres no reason to have shit hair, you know what I mean?! (laughs)■

Contact
A: 14 Lamb Street, Spitalfields, London, E16 EA
T: +44 (0) 2074262121

Followers