What's Happening?
Australian actor Jacob Elordi, known for his roles in 'The Kissing Booth' and 'Euphoria,' has sparked a notable trend in men's hairstyling. According to new search analysis compiled by Fresha, Google searches for 'Jacob Elordi haircut' have surged by 2,838%
in the past year, with approximately 2,000 searches in the last month. Similarly, searches for 'Jacob Elordi hair' increased by 349% year-on-year, reaching 6,000 searches last month. Overall searches for 'Jacob Elordi' are up 280%, totaling 1.2 million searches in the past month. This data indicates a significant shift in men's hair preferences, moving away from highly structured styles like sharp fades and quiffs towards longer, softer looks with natural movement. Hair and beauty expert Danielle Louise, speaking on the Fresha app, attributes the appeal to the relaxed, lived-in appearance of Elordi's hair, which maintains movement around the face and softness through the top without appearing untidy.
Why It's Important?
This trend highlights a broader cultural shift in male grooming and fashion, impacting the beauty and personal care industries. The substantial increase in searches for a specific celebrity's hairstyle suggests a powerful influence of popular culture on consumer behavior. For barbershops and hair product manufacturers, this signals a demand for services and products that cater to longer, more natural-looking men's hairstyles. Businesses in these sectors may need to adapt their offerings, training, and marketing strategies to meet this evolving consumer preference. The shift away from 'ultra-sharp fades and heavily styled quiffs' could lead to a decline in demand for certain styling products and techniques, while boosting interest in others, such as sea-salt sprays and lightweight styling creams. This also underscores the role of celebrity influence in driving market trends, demonstrating how a single public figure can significantly alter consumer demand and industry focus.
What's Next?
Hair and beauty expert Danielle Louise provides guidance for men seeking to emulate Elordi's look, advising barbers to maintain length through the fringe and crown, use scissor-cutting for the sides, and remove internal weight with subtle layers. For at-home styling, she recommends using sea-salt spray or lightweight styling cream on towel-dried hair, pushing hair away from the face while drying, and finishing with a matte paste or cream on mid-lengths and ends, avoiding heavy waxes or gels. Louise also emphasizes the importance of regular trims every six to eight weeks to maintain the shape. This detailed advice suggests that the industry will likely see an increase in demand for specific cutting techniques and product types. Barbers and stylists may need to update their skills and product inventories to cater to this growing trend, while product brands could capitalize on this by promoting items suitable for achieving and maintaining this softer, longer style.
Beyond the Headlines
The phenomenon of Jacob Elordi's hair influencing thousands of men's Google searches points to a deeper societal trend regarding masculinity and self-expression. The move towards a 'relaxed and lived-in' hairstyle, as described by Danielle Louise, could symbolize a broader acceptance of less rigid and more natural aesthetics for men. This contrasts with previous eras that often emphasized highly structured or overtly masculine grooming standards. It suggests a growing comfort among men in embracing styles that prioritize comfort and a more effortless appearance, potentially reflecting evolving perceptions of attractiveness and male identity. This shift could also be seen as a rejection of overly manufactured or high-maintenance looks, favoring authenticity and ease, which has implications for how male beauty standards are constructed and consumed in contemporary culture.
