How to Get an Emo Hairstyle

Hairstyles, like any trend, follow the industry and movements they were bread into and emo hair is no different. One of the best examples of an emo hairdo comes from all-star emo-tastic musician, Pete Wentz, from Fall Out Boy. Like many other popular hair styles, emo hair began as a trend seen in the music industry. What’s great about this look is that it’s a relatively new style. The bob, long layers and volumized curls have been reinterpreted so many times, you can barely follow their origin, but emo hair, like its musical inspiration, is still wet behind the ears. This is a unisex style that is characterized by a cropped nape that graduates forward into a long, heavy and sweeping fringe that is swept toward one eye. Here’s how to get the look.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Professional stylist
• Razor comb
• Straightening iron
• Round brush
• Blow dryer
• Gel
• Pomade
• Hair and entertainment magazines
• Shampoo
• Conditioner

1. Grow your hair to the proper length before attempting to get the cut. You must have some length in your hair in order to get the emo hairdo. If your hair is short, you’ll have to give it time to grow. A hairstylist can give you more accurate measurements specific to your hair, but a good rule of thumb is to have at least 3 inches all around.

2. Get the cut. Bring in photos of a cut you’d like to mimic. Hair magazines and entertainment magazines have tons of pictures you can look at. Ask your stylist to cut your hair into a blended crop, being sure that the shortest lengths are at the back and around your ears. A blended crop will give you the blunt, choppy layers of the emo look.

3. Cut a perfect fringe. The fringe or bangs are the most important part of the
   emo hairstyle. Your front fringe can be tapered or cut bluntly according to the unique style you’re looking for. The bangs in an emo hairstyle use up a larger portion of the front hair than normal bangs and should be swept at an angle toward one eye.

4. Wash your hair. Emo hair looks messy and unkempt, but this is a purposefully unkempt look. Emo hair looks messy on purpose and the perfect messiness takes time to perfect. Make sure to wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner up to every other day.

5. Style your hair. Blow dry your hair in sections, using a large round brush, being sure to dry each section in the direction that you are styling it. This will add volume and help to make your hair light and wispy. Once your hair is dry, you may need to use a straightening iron to make your hair extra smooth. Not all hair textures will need a straightening iron, but if you have wavy to curly hair, a straightening iron is a must.

6. Maintain your look. While it isn’t recommended that you try to cut your hair on your own, you may maintain it between cuts by using a razor comb. Razor the ends to keep the look fresh, but be careful and remember that less is more.

Tips & Warnings

• For unruly hair, try using a light gel or pomade to keep the fringe in place or add a messy spike to the back.
• Don’t be afraid of accessories like ribbons, decorative barrettes and head bands. Depending on your look and style, try some fun clips or gothic extras to add a unique flair to your new do.