Model Haircut for Men: Dolan's Three Looks from One Cut
Fashion model Dolan: a cut made for the camera
Dark, thick and tousled, swept off the forehead with volume at the front and a little extra length at the nape: fashion model Dolan's haircut is made for casting calls, shoots and everything in between.
A model's hair has to do more than look good once. It has to work for a dozen different looks in one day, under hot lights, with stylists and wardrobe changes in between. That only works when the cut gives the hair a shape it can always return to.
Below, men's hairstylist Sergio Slavnov explains how Dolan's cut was built and how the same haircut turns into three different looks.
The cut: long top, lifted crown, soft nape
This is a layered men's haircut and scissor cut men's haircut with real natural movement, built for men's medium length hair that has to look good from every angle.
- Top: long enough to wave up and back. The length on top lets the hair rise off the forehead and roll back, or fall forward when the look calls for it.
- Crown: layered for lift. Layers through the crown make the roots stand up and let the front fall in a loose off-center sweep.
- Sides: close around the ear. The sides were cut in close enough to sit clean around the ear.
- Nape: extra length. The sides blend into longer hair at the back of the neck, so the shape reads relaxed, not boxy.
Three looks from one cut
The same haircut, styled three ways in a single session:
Look 1: swept back. The front rises off the forehead and rolls back in loose waves. Clean and confident, the go-to for castings and headshots.
Look 2: side sweep. The front breaks to one side in an off-center sweep, with the longer nape showing at the back. Relaxed and editorial, good for lifestyle shoots.
Look 3: fringe over the eye. The front is pushed forward and low across one eye. The most dramatic version, for fashion editorials.
The cut makes this possible. Because the layers are placed for lift and movement, the hair goes where it's directed and stays there, whichever way it's styled.
How to style it: Sculpting Foam, then Super Hold Hair Spray
Avenue Man Sculpting Foam builds the shape. It adds body at the roots and defines the waves without weight, a stiff feel or flaking. Super Hold Hair Spray then locks it in place through a full shoot day, holding the lift and the sweep through lights, wardrobe changes and movement.
- Foam on damp hair. Work a small handful of Sculpting Foam through the roots and lengths after towel-drying.
- Lift the roots. Blow-dry the front and crown up and away from the scalp with your fingers.
- Set the direction. Back for look 1, to the side for look 2, forward and low for look 3. Finish drying in that direction.
- Break up the waves. Once dry, separate the waves with your fingertips so they look tousled, not set.
- Lock it with spray. Mist Super Hold Hair Spray from about 10 inches away. To switch looks later, brush through lightly with your fingers and re-spray.
Together they are among the best men's hair products for men's medium length hair and men's wavy hair that needs both shape and staying power.
Why a model haircut has to move
A model haircut works when it moves with the person wearing it. Photographers shoot from every angle, and models turn, tilt and walk. A cut that only looks right from the front falls apart the second the head moves.
This creative men's haircut puts lift where the camera looks first and softness where it turns. That's the precision Sergio Slavnov's private men's hair studio brings to every men's hair transformation.
Upkeep for shoots and castings
- Trim once every 2 months. The layers and the nape are refreshed, and the length on top stays.
- Plan the trim before big jobs. A trim a week before a shoot gives the hair time to settle, so it doesn't look freshly cut on camera.
- Wash out the spray. After a long shoot day, wash the hair so product doesn't build up and weigh down the roots.
- Keep the nape tidy. The longer nape is part of the look, but it should stay clean, not shaggy.
Frequently asked questions
What is a model haircut?
A cut built to look good from every angle and to change looks quickly: enough length on top to style, layers for lift, and a soft outline at the sides and nape.
What do I ask for to get Dolan's haircut?
Long on top, layered through the crown, sides close around the ear, with extra length left at the nape. Bring these photos.
Can one haircut really be styled three ways?
Yes, if there's enough length on top and the layers are placed for lift. The cut gives the hair a shape; the styling chooses the direction.
Will hairspray make my hair stiff?
Not if you mist it from a distance. Super Hold Hair Spray holds the shape while the hair still moves.
How much does this haircut cost with Sergio Slavnov?
A men's haircut with Sergio Slavnov is $250.
About Sergio Slavnov
Sergio specializes in medium-length and long men's hairstyles. His work has been featured in GQ, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour and on Times Square billboards. The Washington Post called him the "Manhattan Men's Hair Guru."
More looks like this are on Instagram at @avenue.man, and you can watch the full process on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@bestmenshaircutsandstyling.
Sculpting Foam and Super Hold Hair Spray are at avenueman.com.