April 15, 2022

LAST NOVEMBER, Sameer Sadhu dyed his black mop a mauve so rich it would make Barney the dinosaur jealous. Though Mr. Sadhu, 34, a New York music executive, said he woke up one morning yearning to try a loud shade, his purple plan wasn’t totally out of the blue. His wife had been contemplating dyeing her hair and he guesses she “put a little seed” in his head that eventually took root. He and his colorist decided lavender would best complement his skin tone, said Mr. Sadhu, who is South Asian. While the hue handily hides his grays, he’s more stoked by the “sense of adventure” it inspires.

Mr. Sadhu has joined a growing flock of men whose dyed crests resemble birds of paradise. These adventurous gents treat their hair like an accessory, switching colors—aqua! chartreuse! beet red!—as easily as some guys change sneakers. Other men pursue a more low-key dye agenda, opting for approachable, natural-looking shades that diminish—or enhance—their grays.

Once deemed tacky, taboo or a pitiful sign of a midlife crisis, coloring has become a viable and desirable option for men. Demand from male clients has “doubled or tripled” in the past two years, said Los Angeles colorist Daniel Moon. “It’s become a thing,” added Jackson Heller, the New York colorist who orchestrated “Gossip Girl” star Evan Mock’s flamingo-pink buzzcut (pictured). Guys are experimenting at home, too. A 2021 report from research firm Mintel estimated that 38% of U.S. men use some form of DIY hair color, whether it’s permanent or temporary—an increase from 34% in 2019.

The dye-curious—that is, those eager to address grays but wary of looking like a Lego man—should aspire to resemble Sgt. Salt ’n’ Pepper himself, George Clooney, advised Mr. Moon. Instead of eliminating your grays with black or brown dye, zhoosh them up by adding darker and lighter shades of silver, which will simulate Clooney-caliber depth. Eric Chan, 34, a New York real estate manager, uses a gentle black wash that mutes his grays but lets them “show through a little bit.” It looks persuasively natural and fades in a few weeks, he said, calling it “a nice option” for special occasions.

Meanwhile, bold, unnatural coloring has lost its punk-rock connotations, said Mr. Moon. It’s another traditionally “feminine” look that men now casually adopt, along with nail polish, earrings and crop tops. This might be an organic extension of what Mr. Heller calls an “obvious shift” whereby men visit high-end salons instead of barbershops. Come for the trim, stay for the tint.

Original article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-mens-hair-dye-went-from-taboo-to-trendy-11650028460