Bradley Cooper's hair has seen many variations. In A Star Is Born, we get to add one more iconic look to his portfolio: the long, swept-back, barely styled mop on the downtrodden, lovestruck Jackson Maine. It’s intentionally disheveled, and if you wore it for yourself, this style would tell people that you’re introspective, maybe a little poetic, and really just not in the mood for hair product.
We’re long past the days of telling you that you need to look polished all the time. Sometimes, your hair should match your persona, and in Jackson Maine’s case, it certainly does. If you yourself are ready to play a long game and want to emulate the style, we wanted to give you the rundown on how to do it best. So, we spoke to Bambi Saunders, Manager of Education at Rudy’s Barbershop, for tips on how to grow, style, and maintain Jackson’s mane. Here is her advice.
What type of hair it requiresFirst, let’s state the obvious: You need to grow your hair long for this style. Like, 6-9 months, minimum, says Saunders. (Maybe pop a daily biotin to make it grow faster?) Here are some other details that Cooper is working with: His hair isn’t overly straight, and not too curly. It’s a little wavy and textured. You also need some fullness up top. If you’re thinning, it will look like a big comb over, Saunders points out. However, “this look would be good on someone who has a widow’s peak starting to form,” she says. “Because the length on the top could cover some of the recession in the hairline.”
What to do as it growsSaunders notes that you’ll need to see a stylist every 8 weeks in order to texturize, layer, and direct the style. It might seem counterproductive to get hair cuts while growing your hair, but it’s all for the sake of style. She adds that you’ll want to keep the backside shorter in the first stretch of growth, while the top grows out. If not, it just looks like a mullet, fast.
How to care for this kind of hairstyleThe most important rule when caring for long hair: Don’t shampoo it too often. Especially this style, which is endearingly greasy: “This hair should not be squeaky clean,” Saunders says. “I would even suggest washing twice a week but rinsing and conditioning every time you shower.” (Side note: Rudy’s has a moisturizing shampoo that doesn’t dehydrate the hair, and an excellent daily conditioner.)
How to style this hairDon’t touch a blow dryer, says Saunders. It might be your instinct with long hair, just to expedite the process, but it will dry it out and add unnecessary volume and poofiness. Instead just apply something lightweight, like salt spray or styling cream.
“Cream would work great to give it grit, especially on that first clean hair day (after shampooing),” says Saunders. The result is touchable hair: “This is the kind of hair you want to run your fingers through and not bring back a sticky hand.”
See also: The new rules of long hair, according to experts
