Trump's comb-over and the psychology of male hairstyles

Story highlightsThe comb-over, no longer just to cover up balding, is one of the most popularhairstyles among young menMen often choose styles to make them look younger and more powerful,as could be the case with the distinctive 'do of Donald TrumpBut men have also sported their shareof iconic 'dos over the decades, from the Beatles' shag to Justin Bieber's pompadour and the hard-t--ignore coif of Republic presidential candidate Donald Trump.

More and more, men seem to be caring about their hair. A small survey of men in Canada found thatthey are concerned about their locks and think it is part of their masculinity and self-image.

"It's increasingly acceptable to have [hair] concerns and to discuss those concerns ... it's notemasculating anymore," said Rose Ricciardelli, assistant professor of sociology at MemorialUniversity in Newfoundland, and author of the study.

Men fuss with their tresses in large part to make themselves feel more comfortable or confident,Ricciardelli said. Many probably realize that people notice if they are balding, despite their bestcomb-over efforts, but they still want to look good when they look in the mirror, she said.

Of course, it is also about the outward show. Men who do more than just ask for a little off the topand sides tend to be more extroverted and care more about what others think of them, said MichaelCunningham, a psychologist who teaches in the Department of Communication at the University ofLouisville.

Through hairstyle, men seek to blend in with their peers or look younger, more powerful or free-spirited, Cunningham said, and in most cases men succeed in conveying what they intend. They areaware of current style and social perceptions, he said, and they know what message they willsending if they tease their hair sky hair or grow some stubble.

Not your grandpa's comb-overThe comb-over we all know and love (to hate) is achieved by combinglong strands of hair over a bald spot. The style is a favorite among businessmen and politicians; theU.S. Congress is chock-full of comb-overs.

But a different kind of comb-over is taking hold among men with ample hair. "The comb-over is nowdefined as a strong side part where the hair is combed over to one side and cut tight around theedges to convey a very vintage look," said Sam Donofrio, educational supervisor at the Hair DesignInstitute in Manhattan. "It is probably the most popular hairstyle that we are seeing," he said. Someof Hollywood's most hirsute, including George Clooney and Christian Bale, sport these updatedcomb-overs.

The pompadour is another modern take on a vintage 'do that is popular among young and trendymen, Donofrio said. For this style, men build their hair up high on top and have it short and slickedback on the sides. Justin Bieber is one of the famous sporters of pompadours.

Trump flip-flopsAlthough it is often referred to as a comb-over, the coif that covers Donald Trump'shead is "an animal of its own," Donofrio said. And no, Donofrio has not really heard anyone askingfor this style yet. An illustrated guide of how to achieve the look instructs you to first blow-dry yourhair forward over your eyes, then flip it back and blow-dry again.

A bigger question than how Trump creates this flipped-back style, is why. "He wants to look like thebrash young guy who is taking the world by storm...He wears this Beatles style haircut, but it doesn'tquite work," Cunningham said. If Trump wanted to come across as an experienced senior businessexecutive, he would probably go with a traditional, neat comb-over, he added.

Another possibility, which Ricciardelli suggested, is that Trump wears the flip because it is part ofhis brand, just like Bieber's signature pompadour. He would probably only change hairstyles if hewas thinking of ditching the brand or reinventing himself, she said.

Or if he were moving into the White House.Trump has said that he'd lose the hairdo if hewere elected president because he would nothave time to maintain it.

The hair plug clubAbout two-thirds of men in theU.S. lose a substantial chunk of hair by the timethey are 35, and 85% have thinning hair by age50. For some, the solution is hairtransplantation, in which doctors graft patches of scalp where hair is growing onto balding areas.There have been advances in transplantation, also known as hair plugs, to make the new coveragelook less patchy.

If Vice President Joe Biden got hair plugs, which many experts believe he did, he unfortunatelyreceived them decades ago, before those advances. Biden's hair plugs would have been larger thanthe kind used today, leaving a less natural looking hairline. A number of celebrities, includingMatthew McConaughey and Tom Hanks, have been suspected of getting hair plugs because theyhave more hair these days than they used to.

As with comb-overs, hair plugs can be a way to keep a younger looking head. Even though thinninghair is common, some men just don't want any part of it, Cunningham said. "America values youthmore than wisdom," he said.

Ricciardelli said a lot of men who get hair plugs tend to start balding at a young age, in their teensand early 20s. Some have told her they regret having the procedure, she said. Even in the bestcases, hair plugs can leave scars and make the scalp less smooth and hard to shave, she said.

Monk see, monk 'doBaldness has not enjoyed a good reputation. A recent study found that bothwomen and men perceived bald men as being more dominant and stronger looking than their hirsutecounterparts.

Also less attractive. And older.

Other research over the years has found them perceived balding men as less assertive and lesspleasant overall than their hair-endowed peers.

So, some men just quit fighting and shave it off.

"A lot of people have a tipping point of when it's time to go, and other people never lose enough hairthat they really shave it, [but] if someone thinks they'll look younger for shaving it, they'll shave it,"

Ricciardelli said.

Some men start balding from the crown in addition to -- or instead of -- the front. In Medieval times,Christian monks would intentionally shave this bald spot and cut their hair around it short as arenunciation of vanity and display of religious devotion.

Were they on to something? Then, as now, balding conveyed wisdom, Cunningham said.

The real advantage to shaving it all off could be for men who have already lost a significant amountof hair. "They'll go for the full [shaved] look because it looks more athletic and less senior" thanhaving thinning hair, Cunningham said.

Does your hair hang low? Can you tie it in a bow?The stereotype of the long-haired hippie exists fora reason. "In general, longer hair means that no one can control you, shorter hair means that youare working in a system," Cunningham said.

No surprise then, that young people and artists let theirhair grow longer, whereas businessmen and politiciansusually keep it cropped short. Other than Trump's flip-over, the only unusual hairstyle among the maleRepublican presidential candidates is Rand Paul'sslightly longer, curly locks, Cunningham said. But asmore of a libertarian, Paul may prefer to be a bit againstthe grain, and his hair is no exception, he added.

Long, flowing locks can sometimes be more aboutexperimentation than rebellion, Ricciardelli said. "Males tend to grow their hair out when they areyounger [to try] on something different when they have less responsibility," she said.

Unlike the tress-setting men who opt for pompadours and the style du jour, businessmen's cuts havenot changed much over the years, Donofrio said. "These men aren't looking to set their style apart,they are just looking to have a clean haircut that is business savvy" that is clean on the sides andshort on top, he said.

Mustaches and moreAs every teenage boy knows, a little facial hair can make him look older andmanlier in general. In one study, women looked at photographs of men and ranked the men as notjust older but of higher social status if they had a beard. Looking at photos of bearded men andclean-shaven men with aggressive expressions, they rated the bearded men as more aggressive.

Men with facial hair can also send the message that they are renegades. Just the sight of a littlestubble on the face of Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, was enough for the media to predict he probablynot be running for president in 2016. In fact, there has not been a bearded presidential nominee fora major party since 1916. In professions such as politics and banking, you don't want to come acrossas not caring what other people think of you, Cunningham said.

However, a mustache or beard is not necessarily some great insight into the nature of the personwearing it, Ricciardelli said. "Some men have beards because they have very undefined chins oracne scars, so they do it to cover," she said.