UrbanUpdate

The buzz cut is arguably the haircut of the moment—nothing works better with summer’s artful prints, relaxed-fit pants, and futuristic sneakers—but it won’t stay that way forever. It’s just a fact of life: If you took it all off in May, you’ll inevitably want to grow it all out again by September. Justin Bieber, who recently hit the reset button on his hair after an unfortunate experiment with dreads, is your guide to growing your hair out without looking like a mushroom. He’s doing two things very right with his awkward-length hair:

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He’s still spending QT with his barber.

Even if your final goal is long-all-over hair, you want to focus on growing out the top section of your hair first. That means visiting your barber every month or so to get your neckline and sides cleaned up. Bieber is clearly employing this tactic, and it’s making him look a lot less like a tennis ball.

He’s styling it into submission as best he can.

Letting the natural oils in your hair build up a bit (translation: don’t shampoo) and using styling product to add even more grip and texture will keep new growth out of fuzzball territory. It might not immediately seem worth it, but as Bieber proves, some grooming cream or styling paste is your best friend right now.

Having an out-there color also helps a non-haircut look more purposeful, but be prepared to have to strategize just as skillfully when you decide you’re ready to move on from that look, too.

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