an Excerpt from GQ written by Jay Sebring...
Jay Sebring was a young Hollywood hair designer--he prefered "designer" to "stylist"--who revolutionized the business of cutting mens's hair. Other barbers pride themselves on being stylists rather than mere hair-cutters, but no one brought so much recognition to the art as Mr. Sebring. He had publicity in Time, Newsweek, Cosmpolitan, and on television. He numbered among his clients practically every major film and TV star. He charged $30 for a first visit, placing the styling of men's hair on the same rarified echelon as women's coiffuring.
How often should a man have his hair cut?
Every 10 days to a month. Two weeks is probably the average. But some men have very fine hair and can let it grow longer without much visible effect, and smoe men look as well with their hair long any way. Several of my customers--like Robert Culp--let their hair grow a month before they have it cut.
How often should a man wash his hair?
Preferably, every day. I wash mine that often. About 25% of the men in this country have an accumulation of jungus layer on the scalp--what's commonly called dandruff--and dandrubb and dirt and the oil from the sebaceous glands and the oil men put on their hair all clog the pores. The hair comes through finer and weaker--and eventually the man goes bald. If you noticed, on a bald man, no pores show. They are covered over by skin. So the best thing you can do for your hair--and the most imporatant advice I can give to your readers--is to wash your hair with a mild shampoo, as often as you bathe. That frequent washings will "dry your hair"--is just an old wives tale, completely disproven. There is no such thing as "dry hair"--the hair can't dry up; the oil ducts are below the surface of the skin. Scrub the hair well twice with a firm, round ruber or plastic shampoo brush. The brushes will get to the scalp; if you use your fingers, you are usually just rubbing the hair against the scalp. And don't worry about the hair that comes out in the washing. That happens to everyone. That hair will be replaced.
Is brushing good for the hair?...
Yes, brushing and massage are both good for the hair, but not as important as washing. There's no point in rubbing the dirt and oil around. If you wash your hair every day with a shampoo brush, you'll stimulate the scalp and remove dirt--and you really won't need to brush, too.
Hairstyle advise...
How close to the ears should the hair be cut?
Almost to the ear; nothing looks worse than white side walls.
And how long should sideburns be?
That depends on the facial characteristics of the individual, but most men should wear their sideburns fuller than they do at present. Fuller sideburns thin the face--if the hair is short at the side, the face looks fatter. Also, the hair at the side is usually the same color as the brows, and dark, like the eyes--fuller sideburns help to bring out the eyes.
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