Hair Gel for Men: How to Get a Messy Matte Look

We all know that guy whose hair’s always on the right side of messy. The dude with hair that says “Hey, I rolled out of bed and left home to grab a coffee in ten seconds flat.” Want to know the secret behind his messy hair look? The answer is a laidback attitude and…a styling gel.

Messy-look styling with gel

A messy, matte, bedhead needs a product that’s light, but still gives hold: nothing’s worse than a surfer-style look that can’t handle the wind. Axe Messy Look: Matte Gel gives medium hold with a matte, no-sheen finish.

So what styles can you go for with a matte hair gel? If you’re short on the sides with length on top, the tousled look is a classic. For more direction, try sweeping the top to one side while keeping the messiness. This works well on straight or wavy hair.

For shorter hair, get some texture by ruffling the hair in different directions. Rock stars regularly nail this look (without it seeming like they tried, of course).

How to use hair gel

Start off with dry hair. Don’t go overboard with gel: too much will weigh your hair down and make it majorly crunchy. Start with a fingertip amount; mix it between your fingers and rake through your hair from root to tip.

Need more? Go ahead. Remember to aim for full coverage: you may not be able to see the back of your head, but everyone else can.