Nail That Don Draper Style

Nail That Don Draper Style

Every once in awhile, a TV show comes along and turns the tables on style. Peaky Blinders have made the sharpest skinfades a staple of men’s style, whilst The Simpsons brought in a whole new phase of turning yellow...or was that jaundice? But at the top of the style-pile, has to be Mad Men. And no wonder - whilst it might be great to watch, meth-dealing and dragon-riding aren’t exactly easy to integrate into our everyday lives. Cool suits, slick hair, and non-stop whiskey swilling - now that we can get behind.

The show may have ended, but the style is timeless, so how to nail that Don Draper cut? A classic look like this should be bread and butter for any barber worth their salt. The main thing is - no fades. They’re all the rage at the moment in current styles, but we’re channelling the sixties here. The back and sides need tapering old school style with scissors.

The next vital step is getting a good comb - you need that stiff pull and close styling that only comb teeth give you. For a trusty allrounder, try Kent http://www.themodernman.co.uk/kent-handmade-medium-mens-comb.html?___SID=U - or if you wanna treat yourself go for a classic Mason Pearson http://www.themodernman.co.uk/mason-pearson-c4-styling-comb.html?___SID=U

Next up, styling products. Don’s look is slick as you like so you need to avoid anything with a ‘matte’ finish - we’re after high shine only. Wet look gel is OK, but pick the wrong one or use too much and it’ll set so hard you end up with hair like a Lego man.

You’re better off going for pomade - it doesn’t fully set, so your hair stays workable whilst having great shine. Pomades come in two types - grease based and water based. Grease-based is more authentic - some like Sweet Georgia Brown were around even before the sixties - they’re exactly what the real Don Draper’s will have used. http://www.themodernman.co.uk/sweet-georgia-brown-original-pomade.html?___SID=U

They’re a commitment though - they’re tough to wash out, and can be a nightmare for your pillows. Many men therefore prefer water-soluble pomade like this Uppercut Deluxe Pomade https://www.themodernman.co.uk/uppercut-deluxe-pomade-100g.html or this cheeky little Dapper Dan number http://www.themodernman.co.uk/hairbond-gripper-pomade-100ml.html?___SID=U They’ll give you sleek shine, but are light enough to wash out normally. (You can find out more about Dapper Dan’s Pom over on our friend Charlie’s blog https://modishmale.com/2017/03/05/dapper-dan-deluxe-pomade-x-the-modern-man/ )

Want to nail this look? You need to style whilst your hair’s still damp so you can nail the parting. Work a little pomade in, then shake your hair forwards and see how it naturally falls - this will show you where to work the parting. Comb the sides down, and a tiny bit back, then work your fringe back and to the side. Those of you with thick or curly hair might want to apply a little more right on top, but for thinner hair that won’t be necessary. If you want to mix it up with more height (think Elvis-esc quiff) then you could use a hair dryer for the front.

Want to keep your smart look all day? Try a Folding Pocket Comb. https://www.themodernman.co.uk/kent-82t-folding-pocket-comb.html

Oh, and one last thing - if you’re starting to bald then you’re best off cutting it short than going for this look, or you’ll be more Bobby Charlton than Don Draper