The Pompadour Hair Style - How to Style it

The pompadour, a true classic. Rocked by Elvis Presley to John Travolta and even more recently Zac Efron.

The name and style comes from Madame de Pompadour who was a mistress to an 18th-century French king. She established the style and subsequently held its named sake for centuries. 

The pompadour style is where the hair is swept up back over the head, and worn high over the forehead. The high front is constructed with long hair and commonly known as a quiff nowadays. The back and sides are finished neatly with a comb.

It’s not for everyone, lends itself to guys with straighter more fine hair with a minimum 5cm fringe. So guys those receding hair lines probably won’t help! If you're up for it there are different types of Pompadour styles to try that suit different styles and hair types. 

The Classic Pompadour

The class requires a lot of scissor cut hair and slightly shorter back and sides. The fringe should be the longest point. Good for straighter, longer hair. 

The Short Pompadour

Like the classic but shorter. The sides and back are short and even sometimes faded. The fringe stays longer than the sides, but typically no longer than 5cm.

Textured Pompadour

Following the steps of the classic pompadour but use a texture spray or dust to give your hair a more matte finish. Unless you already have curly or thick hair. Helps to go a bit more heavy on the finishing product like a clay or paste.

How To Style:

Whatever style pompadour you go for, the basic steps are the same:

1. Wash your hair and towel try.
2. Use a comb and hair dryer, blow dry hair as you comb backwards from your forehead and temples backwards towards the crown.
3. Always work in the direction of root to tip.
4. Get a small amount of your finishing product, run through your hands and run through your hair.
5. Apply a pea-sized amount of product. Rub it between the palms of your hands first to warm it before running it through your hair.
6. Grab the comb again and work backgrounds as in step 2.
7. Create the quiff. With the palm of your free hand, gently push forward the hair you’ve just combed backwards. Then, use the comb to gently tease your fringe straight up and back, so that it curves up and back over your head.
8. Once happy with the shape of your pompadour hold your look with a finishing spray.

Check out more Tips & Tricks:

Help! What to do about thinning hair

Men's guide to using a hair dryer

After more? Check them all out here.