2 Sep 2023

The TikTok Trends Not Just For Gen Z

This time last year, we too were naysayers. Millennials, we’d say, should not be on TikTok. But as the year has gone on, we’ve become more susceptible to the fact that - Gen Z, they might just be on to something here. As it turns out, besides dance routines, TikTok is full of useful life hacks, from delicious recipe ideas to DIY tutorials. With so many teens interested in current trends, it’s no surprise that the latest men’s grooming trends & hacks are being born out of the app, too.

As our saved video list got longer & longer with things to try IRL, we figured it was time to fully dissect the latest grooming trends to see if they worked. Without further ado, below we break down the latest grooming TikTok trends that are worth giving a try.

blow drying beard

The Centre Parting

We’ve spoken about this one before...but the E-boy haircut? It’s going nowhere fast. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, Gen Z have declared that side partings are for old people & centre partings are where it's at.

A word to the wise however, this look can be unforgiving on the wrong face shape. Middle partings work to lengthen the face & draw attention to your forehead. Whereas side partings can be used to create height & width which will always be more flattering.

Framing issues aside, centre-parted haircuts are also incredibly difficult to maintain. The glossy symmetry of the style means the length needs to be perfectly balanced on each side to ensure optimum bounce & avoid looking lank. Likewise, washing daily is essential to prevent grease build up, as is the correct application of product & regular blow-drying.

Though we’re not wholly convinced that this look is for anyone over the age of 21 (N’sync had their time & a place for a reason), if you are looking to switch up your look with minimal effort, this style is worth a try. Just proceed with caution & don’t be surprised if your girlfriend doesn’t want to be seen out with you.

Slugging (WTH)

What the heck is slugging you ask? Let us initiate you into one of the platform’s most viral & effective winter skincare trends. As temperatures dip, many will be battling with dry skin & the cure? Slugging. Promising hydrated & restored skin, slugging is a K-Beauty trend which means sealing the skin with a heavy-duty occlusive agent such as Vaseline overnight.

Currently, #sluggingmethod has over 2 million views on the video-sharing app with users sharing their experiences of the K-Beauty hack.

So how do you ‘slug’? Good question. The process is actually pretty easy & simply requires you to carry out your night time skin routine as normal. When finished, you apply a thin layer of Vaseline (or petroleum jelly product of choice) to the face to lock in the good ingredients. Sleep in it overnight & voilà, you wake up with refreshed & supple skin. We’re into it.

#HowToBeard

Is your beard looking a little too Castaway? We’ve got just the hashtag for that. The format ‘How to Beard’ has been trending on TikTok with beard enthusiasts everywhere breaking down their daily beard routines. Out of all the viral videos, this might just be the most practical, with a handful of helpful TikTok-ers demonstrating exactly what’s in the name.

Grab your trimmer & happily go lose 2 hours of your day

The ’Boy’ Perm

In an unlikely series of events the ‘boy’ perm has become one of the most trending new looks on the platform, with e-boys cropping up everywhere sporting curls even Timothée Chalamet himself would envy. Admittedly, boy perms are nothing new (K-pop boys have been doing it for years), but the look is finally going mainstream thanks to the help of some 16-year-olds armed with rollers & a little perm solution.

But, you want to listen up lads. This look is not for the faint of heart, or grooming novice. You see, the rules of perm maintenance are a little hard to cover comprehensively through a 15-second TikTok video, so if you're looking to hop on the trend, here are a few things you may want to know.

A perm is essentially the chemical alteration of your hair's protein structure. There are two main steps - the perm solution & then the neutraliser.

The perm solution contains ammonium thioglycolate, which breaks the disulfide bonds holding the hair in its natural shape. Then comes the neutraliser, it's usually hydrogen peroxide & it allows the bonds between the hair proteins to re-form in the shape of the rollers, which is what gives you curls.

Now for the maintenance. Perms are not just a "do it once & it's done" thing. Once you take the leap, you're committing to caring for a completely new hair texture. That means you have to change the products you use on it, the way you dry it, the way you style it.

Don't let that intimidate you, though; a quick scroll through the #perm on TikTok & you’ll find plenty of inspiration. So if you are feeling brave, this could be the look for you.

TikTok-ers, it seems, do know what’s up & in general, most of these trends do work. They just take a bit of time & possibly a bit of courage. But if these tips are a bit out there for you, you can update your style with more tried & tested looks.