pompadour

6StringShooter · Nov 5, 2007

For all of you hair enthusiasts our there...how does the cut for a pompadour differ from a regular haircut? I guess I am asking, how does one attain the characteristic bump in the front? lol Is it just long fronts (or bangs)? The only other way that I can think of would be to deliberately allow the hair to grow very long in the front and taper the whole top back to a much shorter length but I picture that looking like a giant, hideous crewcut...I don't know...

The real Henry · Nov 5, 2007

I think that depends on what king of pomp you want. Generally one can say the hair needs be longer on the top than at the sides. I personally prefer my hair short at the sides and without sideburns. Elvis is a good example here, because throughout his carrier his hair became longer and longer.

The bump not hard to do even if you have such bristly hair like me. Just take a comp, stick it in by the middle of the bangs, bend it to the back and blow-dry them. It all works better if the bangs are still a bit wet from washing or if you use some pomade or wax.

And if that doesn't work for you, there's still that rockabilly-revival stray cats pomp.

BTW- How about a good guitar thread? I buy my first e-guitar this week.

6StringShooter · Nov 5, 2007

Yeah I definitely have the bristly hair! lol

your first e-guitar? what's that?

The real Henry · Nov 5, 2007

I not quite sure about the model, I'll just look what the local music shops offer. Sadly, a semi-accoustic one is too expensive for me at the moment, so I'm thinking of something in the direction of an inexpensive Les Paul replica.

Regards,
Henrik

flat-top · Nov 6, 2007

6StringShooter said:
The only other way that I can think of would be to deliberately allow the hair to grow very long in the front and taper the whole top back to a much shorter length but I picture that looking like a giant, hideous crewcut...I don't know...

My current hairstyle is a variation of this. The back and sides are extremely short are faded. After I brushed all the hair in the front foward (into bangs I guess) and then buzzed the top down to a crew cut length.Then I combed the front up and back. I saw these directions in an old 50's teen magazine, and it worked.
It also allowed me to keep growing the front, since I've been maintaining the sides, top and back.

6StringShooter · Nov 6, 2007

well i'll be, flat top...would you mind posting pics? That probably looks awesome!

Corona Smith · Nov 6, 2007

I myself have sort of a quiff going on. That is to say that in the back and along the sides, my hair is as high and tight as it can go, but in the front (my bangs), my hair goes down pas my chin. I wish I had a picture to show as it's kind of hard to describe, but if you've ever seen Ralph Finnes in Quiz Show...thats' pretty much how I wear my hair.

flat-top · Nov 6, 2007

6StringShooter said:
well i'll be, flat top...would you mind posting pics? That probably looks awesome!

Ahhh...I'm not on my own computer these days, so my camera program isn't loaded.
Now you certainly do not need to give yourself a severe haircut like I have, but it really was a great way to give the front a head start. Like Corona Smith, my bangs are long (just past my nose), so I let the top grow out now since the front being longer has definitely been achieved. I know from past experience that just trying to grow ALL my hair out made me crazy and I usually chopped it all off.

KittyT · Nov 6, 2007

6String, typically for a pomp, the hair on the top is significantly longer than it is on the sides. Everyone has their own preferences though, and some guys like the sides and back "tighter" (eg shorter) than others.

Here are a couple of links:

http://www.rockabillyhairstyle.com/men.html
http://www.geocities.com/pompadour101/instructions.html
http://www.slickville.com/ - practically everything about greasing

Blackgrass · Nov 6, 2007

KittyT said:
http://www.slickville.com/ - practically everything about greasing

And some of it actually has to do with hair!

Corona Smith · Nov 7, 2007

If yer ever in Chicago, and you want to get a hairstyle as bitchin' awesome as I rock (I just bought a camera, so now, when I figure out how to use it, I can show it off), you've got to check out Tigerlilie in Lincoln Square. I only plug this place because my girlfriend owns the place...oh, and they do amazing work. Ask for Angelica (my squeeze) Anjte or Lisa and prepare to walk out lookin' hotter than a hound dog in heat! And fer the ladies...oh man...the stuff they can do! Like I said, if yer ever in Chicago...do yerself a favor.

herringbonekid · Nov 7, 2007

6StringShooter said:
...how does one attain the characteristic bump in the front? lol Is it just long fronts (or bangs)?

you don't HAVE to have significantly longer hair at the front. that is one way of doing it but shorter hair can achieve the same silhouette. mine isn't very long at the front (just covers my eyes if i comb it down). the sides aren't REALLY short either (how long or short the sides are is irrelevant really since they are seperate to the 'pomp' or 'quiff' part.

just experiment with some wax and find out how your hair holds if you style it different ways. mine is quite dry naturally and seems to stay UP very easily with some wax. in fact it's difficult to style it any other way !

flat-top · Nov 7, 2007

herringbonekid said:
you don't HAVE to have significantly longer hair at the front. that is one way of doing it but shorter hair can achieve the same silhouette. mine isn't very long at the front (just covers my eyes if i comb it down). the sides aren't REALLY short either (how long or short the sides are is irrelevant really since they are seperate to the 'pomp' or 'quiff' part.

just experiment with some wax and find out how your hair holds if you style it different ways. mine is quite dry naturally and seems to stay UP very easily with some wax. in fact it's difficult to style it any other way !

Lookin' good HBK! That is definitely the right way to go without obsessively cutting your hair. The problem I always had was, once it became unmanagable, I would just chop it all off and start from scratch!
My haircut now is a variation of the "Mac Curtis" (a rockabilly star who pioneeered the cut), or the "Flat-Top Boogie".
ps What kind of glasses are those HBK? They're killer!

herringbonekid · Nov 7, 2007

thanks flat-top,
they're original 50s glasses from the U.S., no maker's name unfortunately.

Hugh Beaumont · Nov 7, 2007

Hi everyone, new guy here (introduction is elsewhere on the forum).

I've been a part of the rockabilly culture since the late 70's and have worn my hair in a pomp for most of that time.

I've gone through many different styles, from classic to neo and I always end up going for the look Elvis wore in 56, which was long, and combed back and held in place with Royal Crown pomade.

Photographer Alfred Wertheimer captured some of the best Elvis pompadours from that era. There are some shots of Elvis in the pool, and his hair is down past his eyes and even down past his ears. That is how long I usually keep mine and it combes up really good.

I've also used virtually every brand of pomade. My favs are Tancho (Japanese) Murrays, Sweet Georgia Brown but exclusively use Royal Crown now.

To me, this is the best looking pompadour.

RIOT · Nov 7, 2007

I have been keeping the sides short of late, while still having a DA. A good barber will use a blade. But I can't give away too much of their secret. 50wt does it fine for me.

6StringShooter · Nov 7, 2007

Hugh Beaumont said:
I've gone through many different styles, from classic to neo and I always end up going for the look Elvis wore in 56, which was long, and combed back and held in place with Royal Crown pomade.

To me, this is the best looking pompadour.

Man!!! The Elvis '56 is AWESOME!!!! I wish I could get it like that, but my hair is way too curly! It's gonna look like a mix of that and Jerry Lee Lewis and something else lol. I think I'm finally going to simply leave the bangs long (maybe trim the very tips to encourage growth and discourage frayed ends) and continue to grow them. I always buzz the back and sides down to a #1 with a medium (not too low like a blowout and not too high like a high & tight) and fairly tight fade...keeps it off the ears and collar (but I might let the 'burns out a bit as the bangs grow). I'm still not sure as to the length of the remainder of the hair on top...I guess we'll see. My hair is pretty darn curly though so I don't know what would look the best...

hotrod_elf · Nov 7, 2007

My husband sports a pomp with a DA in the back. I cut his hair for him. TOO much grease for the barber. He has to get my approval in grease. Some smell awful. Murry's and Black n White smell the best. He mainly sticks with Murry's.

If you live with a girl make sure you have your set of pillow cases.

6StringShooter · Nov 8, 2007

I swear by Murray's Superior (the original, not the super light). I tried Dax and *gasp* Royal Crown....I always come back to Murray's

RetroBabydoll · Nov 15, 2007

Gentlemen.......

http://layrite.com/

This is what my bf uses and it is the best pomade I've seen. The best thing is that it is WATER SOLUBLE-scientifically formulated to hold like wax, yet, wash out like a gel. I've noticed this stuff is the best for a nice pomp. Most of the other stuff clogs the pores causing receding hairlines and hair loss. I also noticed he doesn't break out on the back of his neck anymore from the grease.

http://layrite.com/Hairstyles.asp
And here's some hairstyle examples to check out

pompadour

One of the Regulars

Practically Family

One of the Regulars

Practically Family

My Mail is Forwarded Here

One of the Regulars

New in Town

My Mail is Forwarded Here

I'll Lock Up

One of the Regulars

New in Town

I'll Lock Up

My Mail is Forwarded Here

I'll Lock Up

One of the Regulars

Practically Family

One of the Regulars

A-List Customer

One of the Regulars

A-List Customer

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