(25 Oct 2015) LEAD IN:
The 'man bun' has been trending with Hollywood celebrities for a while and increasingly gents with long locks are going into salons to learn how to do it for themselves.
Hairdressers in the know have plenty of tips on how best to 'sport the bun'.
It takes a lot of hair, some twists and plenty of practice.
STORYLINE:
From the streets of Hollywood to the fashion runways, the man bun is popping up everywhere.
Male celebrities, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Chris Hemsworth and David Beckham have mastered the art.
Now the public is following their lead. Salons report seeing more and more men coming in asking about the man bun.
If you too want to get the look, hairdressers warn there are tricks to doing it correctly.
At 'Chris McMillan the salon', in West Hollywood, the men's groomer Jason Schneidman greets another client who wants his long hair put up, away from his face.
"You want the insanity, the explosion, you don't want to have a little tight ballerina bun," he says.
Rayne Parvis is the author behind 'Ultimate Guide to Style: from Drab to Fab!'
She's a personal stylist and believes the man bun is a fully fledged hairstyle, not just a trend.
"The man bun right now is huge in Hollywood. All the hottest celebrities are sporting it. Jared Leto, Bradley Cooper, Charles Hunnam, Leonardo DiCaprio; all the hottest celebrities are sporting them including David Beckham which you have actually seen him sporting it for over a decade," she says.
"What's really great about it, it's more, in my opinion, an accessory or a lifestyle rather than just let's say 'I want to sport the bun'. You're going to find a lot of creative men wearing this bun; so artists, directors, maybe art students, musicians, poets, whatever you call it, it's more of the creative mindset, then let's say the businessman who wants to be a member of Congress of something!"
Back at the salon, Schneidman, who's worked in men's styling for 14 years, tweaks his own man bun.
The salon attracts Hollywood's Alist and has worked with stars such as Hugh Jackman, Bruno Mars, and Rob Lowe.
Schneidman is considered a man bun expert.
"People are growing their hair out and it's a little more grunge, a little bit longer. We're moving away from the short sides, the barber cuts, the under cuts. I think a little more reckless, a little more effortless and messy, so that's what inspires the man bun, as guys are growing their hair out, they're putting their hair up."
Schneidman calls the man bun a quick and easy fix for men with long hair, who don't have time to create other styles.
He teaches clients how to create two versions of the bun that are trending today; the original and the top knot.
He says if a bun is too messy it will look unkempt and if it's too perfect, it defeats the purpose of the freeflowing style.
Today he's working with 26 year old Aaron Jacques who's a technician at a drug and alcohol treatment centre.
Jacques says the look is a true expression of who he is and a very practical style.
"When I put it up in the man bun it's so easy to keep it contained when I exercise or eat food or basically do anything like everyday. It's just as easy when you have short hair but at the same time I can let it down, let it flow, have it look good, have so many compliments. Like I get compliments on my hair everyday but when it's short, it's like every guy has short hair, you know. I mean, lately you see a lot of guys in Hollywood with long hair and man buns so its kind of a fad and a trend but for me, it's just me."
Aleks Kocev is next to arrive at the salon.

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