Grooming

How to get Keanu Reeves’ dark and dapper hairstyle

Because we know your grooming mind has been waiting for this answer...
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) Keanu Reeves attends the UK gala screening of 'John Wick: Chapter Two' at Vue West End on February 10, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)Dave J Hogan

Long hair isn't easy to pull off. But Keanu Reeves has managed to do it pretty much his whole life, making the case for a messy, straight-cut black hairdo that screams zero effort yet timeless appeal. His grooming regime probably isn't a complex one, but for those of us who aren't as naturally blessed with those dark locks, we asked super barber Carmelo Guastella for some advice on how to approach it...

Hi, Hair Shrink, how do I get my hair to look like Keanu Reeves’ hair? And what are the best products to style it?

First things first: Reeves is a role model for men who want to sport a slightly dishevelled surfer look. His current locks closely resemble those of the young FBI agent he played in Kathryn Bigelow’s 1991 Californian surfer movie, Point Break. At the time, Reeves won MTV’s “Most Desirable Male” award, so it’s no big surprise that he’s chosen to re-create this very look now he’s in his fifties.

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis

To pull off this look, you’ll probably need the patience of an undercover FBI agent attempting to infiltrate a surf-dude crime gang, because if you're starting from short hair, it’s going to take at least a year to attain the length of these tousled locks. Beware: the in between stage could drive you crazy enough to skydive from an extremely high aircraft!

Still determined to give it a go? You’ll need to have straight hair or, at a push, slightly wavy. From my personal experience of men who want to grow their hair, I’d recommend getting a trim every three months to maintain a decent shape. Four of these trims later and you'll be edging closer to the Reeves style. It should be longer on top, letting the hair fall loose around the face, with an off-centre parting. Reeves creates his parting just to the side of his quite pronounced widow’s peak.

£13.85. At lookfantastic.com

Over to styling. After washing your hair, towel dry and squeeze out the excess water. Follow this with some product (Redken's 06 Thickening Lotion is perfect) to create strength and body. This is going to prevent your hair from looking limp and flat. After this, use a hairdryer to eliminate most of the remaining moisture, but don’t dry your hair completely.

Reeves wears his hair loose and dishevelled, not overstyled, which is kind of the point of this Point Break-esque look. There’s probably a hint of colour running through Reeves’ hair and there’s nothing wrong with that, so I’d suggest finishing off the style with a dry, light shine product such as Fudge Light Hed-Ed Hair Oil to reflect light and give your hair a healthier feel.

£14.95. At lookfantastic.com

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