Written by Menswear Style in Hair on the 16th January 2019

The dawn of a New Year comes with a million self-set challenges. All over the world people are desperately trying to cut down on their bad habits: booze, sugar, fitness and even Netflix in some cases – for fear of going blind, no doubt!

While many might slate the resolutions born from the ashes of the previous year, experts at men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge salute them. “January offers an extra positive push to all those that need it when making changes. These changes often reflect on a person’s physical appearance too, making a new hairstyle one of the quickest and easiest resolutions to tick off the list,” says the brand’s Head of Content and Social Media, Bradley Wicks.

Ultimately, that’s why they’ve teamed up with Barbershop Manager – and Bluebeards Ambassador – Callum Marks to show off one man’s mega transformation for 2019! It should come as no surprise to hear that many barbers find themselves inundated with new style requests from their regulars in the early weeks of the New Year. “I definitely see an influx of men more willing to switch up their style,” says Marks. “It’s funny; because just weeks before they wouldn’t have dared to consider a change. It’s refreshing too as it often gives me a chance to show them what else is out there for their face shape and personality.”

So, what is a disconnected undercut?  

According to Marks, “the disconnected undercut is a versatile look that can be styled in many ways.” The version he’s produced with the Bluebeards is based on the old-school slick backs of the 1900s. “These were super slick, super tight and always very clean in their details,” he says. “To emphasise this, we finished the look with a high-shine pomade from the Bluebeards range. But it could just as easily be finished with their matt clay for a messier, more textured vibe that adds volume." This messier adaptation is a great way to achieve a more casual look too. A further option, of course, is to just throw the longer hair on top over to one side to emphasise the undercut.

In order to successfully pull off a disconnected undercut, the hair on top of the head will need to be of a decent length. “The length on top of the style is what will ultimately give the disconnected effect,” says Marks. “This is thanks to its heavy contrast with the shorter, faded hair on the back and sides.” Unlike more naturally-sitting hairstyles, a disconnected undercut requires regular visits to a barbershop to maintain its effects; especially the tight faded back and sides. Failure to do so will result in irregularities more accustom with the shaggy coat of an Old English sheepdog!

How to create this style at home 

To create the super slick version of this cut, follow these simple points: Start with freshly washed, towel-dried hair. Take a bottle of sea salt spray and spritz it into damp hair, working it through from roots to tips. Grab a hairdryer and a wooden vent brush, courtesy of the Bluebeards. Blow-dry the hair backwards into the desired shape. The vent brush will help to add a little life and volume, making sure the new style doesn’t fall flat.

Once the hair is dried into position, apply a liberal amount of The Bluebeards Revenge Pomade to give a high-shine finish. This pomade is water-based, so washes out easily. For a more natural, textured finish, work in some of the brand’s Matt Clay. Fix the whole look in place with a little hairspray. A top tip here is to spritz the spray onto a pompadour comb for application – “it gives a more defined finish and allows the hairspray to work its way through your hair, rather than just sitting on top,” says Marks.

In this article titled From Shoulder-length Locks to Disconnected Undercut, We discuss what a disconnected undercut is and provide tips on how to create this style at home.