Spiky Haircut in Mississauga: Modern Textured Spikes, Cut to Stand Up

Which spikes do you mean? Say it at the consultation

Spiky hair has two very different reputations, and it helps to be clear which you want. Most people asking for spikes today mean a piecey, matte texture that looks lived in. A few want the tall, glossy, gelled spikes of the early 2000s on purpose, as a throwback.

Both are cut differently, so tell us at the start. A photo helps more than a description here, because the height and the thickness of each spike are hard to put into words. Our spiky haircut guide covers the history and the product choices in detail.

Book by the half of the cut you care about most

Both barbers cut the whole style, but their leanings split neatly along this cut. Marcel Shabo leans toward texture on top and detailing, which is the heart of a spiky cut: the top has to be broken up so it separates into pieces rather than sitting as a solid block.

Mark Yousif leans toward skin fades, so book him if the sharp, bare sides are what you want people to notice. Either way, the finish is a razor lineup around the forehead and ears. See the Marcel Shabo profile for more on how he works.

How we cut the top so it stands on its own

Spikes stand up because of how the top is cut, and product only finishes the job. We start with the length, keeping it short enough that the hair supports itself, then remove weight inside the top so each section can lift and separate.

That texturizing is done with scissors, point cutting into the ends so they taper instead of ending bluntly. On thick hair we take out more bulk; on fine hair we keep more so the spikes do not look sparse. Our answer on what texturizing means explains the technique.

• Thick, straight hair: holds spikes easily; we remove the most weight.
• Fine hair: shorter top, lighter texturizing, a dab of texture powder at the root.
• Wavy hair: messier, more natural spikes; we leave some bend in the ends.
• Very curly hair: better suited to a textured curly top than true spikes; we will talk it through.

Rebook every three to four weeks, before the top gets heavy

A spiky cut rarely looks bad as it grows; it just stops spiking. Around week three the texture grows out, the top gets heavy and the spikes start to fall sideways. The fade also softens around the same time.

Book every three to four weeks, and a week earlier if you have a skin fade you want kept sharp. When you rebook, tell us if the spikes were too tall or too flat last time and we will adjust the length accordingly.

Spikes, humidity and a Mississauga toque

Summer humidity is the enemy of spikes: matte clay softens and fine hair droops by mid-afternoon. A light hold paste applied to dry hair, plus a little extra texture in the cut from June onward, keeps them up longer.

Winter brings the opposite problem: a toque squashes everything flat. Keep the top slightly shorter in December and January, carry a small tin of product, and re-rough the hair with your fingertips after you take the hat off. Our skin fades service covers the sides if you want them bare year-round.