- With any men's haircut, a formal occasion style can be achieved with the use of a styling product. Finding the product that's right for you depends on your hair type. For fine hair, use your fingers to apply a small amount of light product, such as mousse, on hair before it's dry. This will help make sure it dries with body and isn't weighed down. For thicker or coarse hair, using plain old styling gel on dry or damp hair is pretty foolproof-just make sure to use a comb to evenly distribute the product throughout.
- Short formal haircuts are the easiest to style because all they take to look different from the casual, everyday shortcut is to comb through a very small amount of gel (about the size of a nickel) through the hair. This will add shine to buzz-cuts and just a tad of texture to a short cut that's being grown out.
- Men's formal haircuts of medium length (around ear length) are the most versatile because you can go in a few different directions when styling. If hair is all one length, try parting it to one side and sleeking the other side down to create a vintage style. If hair is layered and longer on top, try running some gel or hair wax to create texture and a controlled "messy" style.
- Men's haircuts that are long (shoulder length or longer) should be either all one length with razored ends or slightly layered to create shape. To style either cut for a formal occasion like prom, apply some gel or mousse through damp hair and use your hands to scrunch it. You will create a slightly wavy effect and the hairstyle will look formal and polished after the hair dries completely. If hair appears frizzy or knotted after drying, use a comb to carefully separate any tangles and run a bristle brush misted with hairspray through the hair to flatten frizz.
- When styling an edgy men's haircut for a formal occasion like prom, the keys are to embrace the edginess rather than trying to hide it and using careful precision so that the style appears completely controlled and not too casual. Whether you have a faux hawk or long side-swept bangs that need to be flat ironed, make sure you take a few extra minutes to style the hair. Use a comb, product and even a blow dryer if necessary to make the finished look appear polished.
